BBC Appoints Head of Daytime & Early Peak Commissioning

Rob Unsworth, editor of BBC’s The One Show, has been confirmed as the new head of BBC daytime and early peak commissioning.

Unsworth has been with the BBC since 1997, working on programs such as Watchdog, Blue Peter and Rogue Traders, as well as serving as a senior advisor in the editorial policy team. He spent a number of years running the BBC Studios Factual team in Salford and became head of The One Show in March 2020.

Unsworth will report to Kate Phillips, the BBC’s director of unscripted content. He is replacing Carla-Maria Lawson, and Lindsay Bradbury will continue to be acting head of daytime in the interim till Unsworth takes on his new post in the coming months.

Phillips said: “After a highly competitive interview process, I’m delighted that Rob will be the new head of daytime and early peak, leading a team of very talented commissioners. Rob is an award-winning producer and creative leader with an excellent track record in creating a broad range of popular programming with an emphasis on daytime, consumer and factual. I look forward to him joining our other excellent genre heads in BBC unscripted as we work together.”

Unsworth commented: “I’m thrilled to be taking on such an exciting role right at the heart of the schedule. Daytime and early peak has an incredible mix of shows that have a real impact on people’s lives. I can’t wait to work with the rest of the brilliant commissioning team to build on its strongest brands and also find the big new ideas that will lead us into its next chapter.”

Phillips added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Lindsay for leading the daytime commissioning team. She has done an excellent job announcing various new commissions and continuing to cement some of the BBC’s biggest brands at the heart of daytime television.”