Playground Entertainment Names U.K. Creative Director

NEW YORK/LONDON: Playground Entertainment has hired Channel 4's Sophie Gardiner as the creative director of Playground Television, its newly formed U.K. division.

Gardiner will work out of the company's London offices, which are due to open early next year. She will report to Louise Pederson, the newly appointed managing director of Playground Television. Her duties will include developing and producing original U.K. dramas and overseeing existing and future co-productions.

Gardiner previously served as commissioning editor of drama at Channel 4, where her credits include My Mad Fat Diary, The Mill, Run, Southcliffe, Dates, Utopia and Glue.

"Sophie's work at Channel 4 is a real testament to her keen sense of story, deep relationships with writers and great eye for new talent," said Colin Callender, founder and principal of Playground Entertainment. "She will play an invaluable role in broadening the Playground slate and expanding our reach into the writing community. With Sophie on board as creative director and the recent addition of Louise Pedersen as managing director, our newly created executive team is set to take Playground into its next phase."

Gardiner added: "Over the past three years, I've had the privilege to work with some of the best creative minds and talent in British drama, and am very proud to have been part of the heritage that is Channel 4 drama. I'm incredibly excited about joining Playground, a company that has a track record of making hugely distinctive drama. As creative director of Playground's newly formed U.K. division, I look forward to continuing to work with the amazing writers, producers and directors we have in the industry, and forging relationships with new ones."