ITV’s head of factual, Richard Klein, has become the second executive to leave the broadcaster in recent weeks following the departure of director of television Peter Fincham.
Klein said the “changing of the guard” at the top of ITV provided a good opportunity for Fincham’s replacement, former ITV Studios boss Kevin Lygo, to “pick his own team”.
“It has been a great thrill to run ITV factual for the last two and a half years in what have been demanding times,” he said. “ITV is a world of entertainment and drama and its factual output is always seen in that context. Attracting large audiences to factual programming is one of television’s biggest challenges.”
As head of factual, Klein has been responsible for programming such as Britain’s Busiest Airport, a series of documentary shows fronted by Trevor MacDonald, and the recently cancelled celebrity sheep dog trial show Flockstars.
His departure follows the news last month that ITV director of entertainment Elaine Bedell was leaving after seven years. ITV chairman Archie Norman is also standing down.
Klein added: “We have won some and lost some; but I am particularly proud to have commissioned shows like When Ant and Dec met the Prince, The Mafia with Trevor McDonald, 100-Year-Old Drivers and Rookies. And I am especially pleased that a show like Sugar Free Farm, which tackles serious issues, can achieve real impact in an entertaining and inspiring way.”
Lygo said: “I would like to thank Richard for his contribution and wish him all the very best for the future. I’m now looking forward to the next chapter in ITV Factual’s story.”
