UKTV hires commissioning pair, expands division

UK multichannel broadcaster UKTV has added a pair of commissioning editors following what it describes as its “most successful 12 months ever”.

Former Endemol executive Iain Colye and BBC senior executive producer Hilary Rosen have joined the broadcaster, which has been increasing its commissioning spend over the past few years under director of commissioning Jane Rogerson and controller Emma Tennant.

Coyle and Rosen both become commissioning editors, reporting into senior commissioning editor Richard Watsham and working across UKTV’s entertainment portfolio.

Coyle is credited with helping to launch the career of comedian and broadcaster Russell Brand and to relaunch Endemol format Big Brother on UK terrestrial Channel 5. He is currently overseeing Ross Noble Freewheeling for UKTV’s comedy channel Dave.

Rosen leaves her BBC role after less than a year. She was previously creative director of Sony-owned UK factual producer Silver River.

Further developments at UKTV’s commissioning team sees another senior commissioning editor, Catherine Catton, taking on responsibility for features and factual. Tanya Qureshi has been promoted to development producer and will be the first port of call for new indies and talent and Sharifa Mansour is now commissioning assistant.

In the past 12 months, UKTV, which operates digital free-to-air channels such as Dave and Yesterday and paynets including Watch, has commissioned shows such as David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities, Dynamo: Magician Impossible, Red Dwarf X and The Incredible Mr Goodwin.