UKTV Names New Director of Commissioning

LONDON: Richard Watsham is moving up to the role of director of commissioning at UKTV, promoted from his prior post as senior commissioning editor.

Watsham has been with UKTV since 2011. He has been responsible for such shows as Dynamo: Magician Impossible, The Happenings, The Incredible Mr. Goodwin and Dara O Briain’s School of Hard Sums. As the senior commissioning editor responsible for UKTV’s entertainment originations, he has also overseen projects such as Ross Noble Freewheeling and Dave Gorman’s Modern Life is Goodish, plus Red Bull Cliff Diving and Red Bull Soap Box.

He continues to report directly to Darren Childs, chief executive, who commented, “UKTV’s reputation is built on its bold, industry-leading and hugely imaginative commissions. The Director of Commissioning’s role is central to this business’ ongoing success and Richard Watsham’s confidence and creative leadership, coupled with fantastic ambition, will make sure we stay on the front foot creatively during this great period of share growth for UKTV.”
 
“I have charged Richard with a number of important challenges that will take UKTV to the next stage of its commissioning success.  He will be creating UKTV’s first Commissioning Charter, to give more transparency to our incredibly important relationships with the indie community. He will be leading a vital transformation of our Business Affairs process to ensure that program makers are spending their time and resources making great TV; and he will be increasing UKTV’s footprint in high quality scripted programming, building on our raft of successes, including Crackanory, You, Me & Them and Red Dwarf X.”
 
Watsham added, “After a number of recent successes I’m inheriting the department in great shape and will be doing everything I can to continue building our reputation as originators of highly innovative and engaging programs. I’m lucky enough to have a fantastic team of creative individuals in the commissioning department who are already busy lining up the next raft of exciting content so I’m confident there’ll be lots more exciting program announcements to follow.”