Patricia Hidalgo Named BBC’s New Director of Children’s & Education

Patricia Hidalgo, currently senior VP, chief content and creative officer at Turner EMEA and international kids strategy, has been appointed as the BBC’s new director of children’s and education.

Taking up her new post in September, Hidalgo will be responsible for developing and implementing creative and editorial strategies for BBC Children’s services across all platforms, with a focus on the strategic future direction of media consumption and business models. She will also head up CBeebies and CBBC and will lead the BBC’s education department.

Additionally, Hidalgo will oversee all the division’s content output, including in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions, reporting to James Purnell, the director of BBC Radio & Education. She succeeds Alice Webb, who has taken up a position outside the BBC.

Purnell said: “Patricia has built a hugely successful career in kids’ TV with a track record that speaks for itself. Engaging our audience and staying relevant has never been more important and I have no doubt that Patricia will bring her experience and passion to expertly lead the teams in children’s and education through their next chapter.”

Hidalgo commented: “l am really excited to be joining an organization as forward-thinking and respected worldwide as the BBC, and am honored to be given the great responsibility of leading the children’s and education teams in their efforts to engage, entertain and educate young people across the U.K.”