Five Reshuffles Programming Execs

LONDON: Five has made three appointments to its programming department, resulting in new heads for factual, entertainment and production.

Andrew O’Connell, currently commissioning editor for factual programming at Sky1, 2 and 3, is to be the broadcaster’s new head of factual. Donna Taberer, the commissioning editor of entertainment and features for Sky1, 2 and 3, will become head of entertainment. Nan Whittingham, the current deputy director of production at Sky1, 2 and 3, takes on the role of head of production at Five.

As Sky, O’Connell has been responsible for such series as Ross Kemp on Gangs, Ross Kemp In Afghanistan, Who Killed Diana?, Diary of a Heroin Addict, Badger or Bust and, most recently, Ross Kemp Return to Afghanistan. Taberer has been at Sky since 2006, having commissioned such series as Noel’s Christmas Presents, Hairspray: The School Musical, Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker, Robbie Williams Live: A Close Encounter and At Home with the Hattons. Whittingham joined Sky in April 2007 as deputy director of production, working across Sky output mainly on entertainment and factual entertainment programs, including Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old?, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Hairspray: The School Musical, the Ross Kemp franchise and Noel’s Christmas Presents.

Five’s channel controller, Richard Woolfe, said: “My vision is to put this channel on the map and with these three brilliant Heads joining the programming team I believe we will make Five the destination channel it deserves to be. All three have tremendous track records in producing and commissioning award-winning series that grab the audience’s attention and will ensure Five’s programming is impossible to ignore.”