Clive Edwards, the BBC’s head of TV current affairs commissioning, is to step down, bringing an end to a 22-year career as a frontline journalist.
Edwards, who has also worked at Panorama and edited the Money Programme, will work with the BBC Academy for the next year leading a new factual storytelling initiative.
Edwards remit will be taken on by Fiona Campbell, head of current affairs, who will absorb the commissioning role.
“Clive’s departure from BBC Television is a great loss,” said Danny Cohen, the BBC’s director of television. “He has championed investigative journalism and innovative programme-making and brought current affairs to a much wider audience.”
Edwards has been responsible for commissioning current affairs programmes including Afghanistan: The Lion’s Last Roar?, Inside the Commons, Reinventing the Royals and BBC3 drama Murdered by My Boyfriend.
In 2013, director general Tony Hall split the corporation’s most senior current affairs role to put more “oomph” into programmes such as Panorama.
Edwards, who held the role of executive editor and commissioning editor for TV current affairs, retained responsibility for commissioning while a new role of head of TV current affairs was created.
