BBC Four’s Cassian Harrison Takes New Role at BBC Studios

Cassian Harrison, currently channel editor of BBC Four, has been appointed senior VP of commissioning and content global services at BBC Studios for a nine-month term.

The new role combines editorial and strategic development around BBC Studios’ international consumer-facing outlets. Harrison will work on the creation and distribution of original programming for digital services that BBC Studios owns and operates around the world. He will report to Paul Dempsey’s global distribution division.

Harrison will begin his new role this month. Prior to his time as channel editor at BBC Four, Harrison spent five years as commissioning editor for science, natural history and history across BBC One, Two and Four.

Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Studios, said, “Cassian’s extensive experience and excellent track record in creating and commissioning great British television will help supercharge our offering to international viewers as we look to take the premium, original content for which the BBC is world-renowned, to an even wider global audience.”

Charlotte Moore, director of BBC Content, said, “Cassian is an original thinker with an insatiable curiosity and creative edge. Under his leadership, BBC Four has flourished and achieved continued success. He has championed a range of brilliantly innovative programs from Slow TV to The Secret Life of Landfill and British History’s Biggest Fibs to the award-winning Bros documentary and Life Drawing live. His broad range of interests and eclectic taste makes him perfectly placed to take on this new global role and I would like to wish him all the best.”

Harrison said, “I’m hugely looking forward to helping BBC Studios shape our offer to global audiences. I’m tremendously proud of BBC4’s continuing success, and it’ll be brilliant to be bringing the BBC’s distinctive voices and unrivaled quality to viewers around the world in similarly original and innovative ways. I can’t wait to jump in and start working with such a talented Studios team.”