UKTV Bolsters Commissioning Team

LONDON: On the heels of the company’s most successful year, UKTV has enhanced its commissioning team by hiring Iain Coyle and Hilary Rosen.

Both Coyle and Rosen will report to senior commissioning editor Richard Watsham and will work across the company’s entertainment catalogue. A former executive producer at Endemol, Coyle helped launch the career of comedian Russell Brand. He also contributed to the rebirth of the Big Brother franchise on Channel Five. Rosen previously worked for Donna Taberer and Pat Young at the BBC. Before that she was a creative director at Silver River.

Also as part of the restructure, senior commissioning editor Catherine Catton and her team have become responsible for Factual and Features. Tanya Qureshi and Sharifa Mansour were elevated to development producer and commissioning assistant, respectively. Additionally, Shane Normoyle was hired by the company as a commissioning runner.

Director of commissioning Jane Rogerson commented: "The last year has been a phenomenal year for UKTV’s commissioning slate and I would like to thank all of the producers and talent who have helped make it so. We’ve got a great team here who are all committed to developing and commissioning innovative and bold ideas that can make our channels famous. Iain and Hilary bring a wealth of experience which complements the existing team, will help drive our entertainment portfolio and reflects our desire to grow and strengthen the commissioning department."