ITV has confirmed the appointment of the BBC’s drama chief Polly Hill as its new head of drama along with a much-changed senior management team including Sue Murphy, the former Channel 4 executive responsible for My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
As reported earlier this week, Hill will head the broadcaster’s drama department succeeding Steve November, whose departure was announced last week.
Murphy joins from independent production company Optomen, maker of various Gordon Ramsay shows, in the newly created role of head of factual entertainment.
In other changes, Siobhan Greene moves from ITV Studios to become head of entertainment and Peter Davey is promoted to head of comedy entertainment.
Angela Jain becomes managing director of ITV Studios Entertainment and Rosemary Newell joins from Discovery Networks to become head of digital channels and acquisitions, succeeding Jain.
Kevin Lygo, who succeeded Peter Fincham as ITV’s director of television six weeks ago, said: “A channel’s programming is only as good as the choices the commissioning teams make, and so it is vital to have the best people possible in these crucial positions.
“I’m delighted to announce that Polly, Sue, Shu, Peter, and Rosemary will be joining imminently to lead the programming team through the next phase of ITV’s output.
“Each of them bring a blend of passion and experience to the roles and I’m confident that as a team we can continue to build on the raft of shows that help to make ITV Britain’s most popular commercial channel.”
Hill, whose BBC credits include The Night Manager, Poldark and Doctor Foster, said: “After 11 years at the BBC I am proud to be leaving it at the top of its game.
“ITV has always played a vital part in the landscape of British drama and shows such as Cracker, Prime Suspect and Band of Gold, had a huge influence on me and the drama I wanted to make.
“I am proud to be joining ITV and will lead the drama department into its next exciting chapter, making the very best popular drama, which will feel original, distinctive and authored. It’s a new journey for me and I can’t wait to start.”
Hill’s appointment followed weeks of negotiating, with Lygo understood to have offered the BBC executive twice her corporation salary in an effort to entice her to the commercial broadcaster.
ITV’s current controller of factual, Jo Clinton Davis, will report into Murphy with a particular responsibility for documentaries.
Murphy said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Kevin and the ITV team at such an exciting time.
“I have really enjoyed the past few years on the production front line at Optomen, but helping to reshape and evolve the factual footprint of a broadcasting institution like ITV is just an irresistible opportunity.
“I started my career at ITV [Granada] and I am really looking forward to commissioning and creating a new generation of ITV Fact Entertainment formats and programme brands.”
