Twenty Twenty Taps New Director of Programs

Ruth Kelly, executive producer of The Detectives, has been appointed director of programs at Twenty Twenty, part of the Warner Bros. International Television Production group.

In her new role, Kelly will support Twenty Twenty’s ambitions to expand outside of London into the U.K. regions, working from the company’s new Bristol HQ. She will oversee all current productions as well as the new development slate and report to Creative Director James O’Reilly.

Kelly joins Twenty Twenty following three years at Expectation Entertainment, where she was responsible for such titles as the BBC Two miniseries Murder 24/7 and BBC Three’s 25 Siblings and Me. Prior to joining Expectation Entertainment, Kelly executive produced titles at Minnow Films, including The Detectives for BBC Two, Valley Cops for BBC Three and SAS: Who Dares Wins for Channel 4. She also executive produced the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 TV documentary The Last Chance School and produced Channel 4’s Fighting on the Frontline and Scenes from a Teenage Killing for the BBC.

O’Reilly said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Ruth is joining us at Twenty Twenty. She’s a fantastic program-maker and creative with a reputation for producing television of the very highest quality. Her arrival is a huge boost to our ambitions as a company as we start our journey in Bristol together.”

Kelly said: “The opportunity to join Leanne and Jim at this unique moment in time for Twenty Twenty feels like the perfect fit. Their ability to create programs that combine popularity, purpose and creative innovation is genuinely exciting—if not a little awe-inspiring. Working alongside Jim in Bristol to build a thriving regional business, with the aim of attracting the top talent in factual program-making to rival the best of London is an adventure I am thrilled to be part of. That said, it is with a heavy heart I say goodbye to the extraordinarily talented team at Expectation, and I will remain forever proud of the work Colin [Barr] and I have created together.”