Channel 4 poaches Channel 5 exec

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has hired two commissioners for its specialist factual and documentaries commissioning team, one from rival Channel 5, and promoted another exec.

Channel 5’s Michelle Chappell (pictured) and experienced filmmaker Alf Lawrie will join Nick Mirsky’s documentaries team and the specialist factual team respectively.

Chappell is currently commissioning editor, factual, news and current affairs at Viacom-owned Channel 5, overseeing more than 1,000 hours of popular factual and documentaries between 7pm and 10pm. She previously worked at the BBC.

Lawrie was recently executive producer on season three of Channel 4 reality series The Island and BBC ob doc All Change at Longleat.

Chappell will report to Mirsky, and Lawrie to John Hay, head of specialist factual.

Elsewhere, Channel 4 has promoted deputy editor of Channel 4 News, Shaminder Nahal, to the specialist factual team, also reporting to Hay.

Channel 4’s future remains unclear, with the government still thought to be exploring if it can be taken private.

In related news, Channel 4 has commissioned a full 20x60mins season of RDF Television-produced gameshow The Crystal Maze after a celebrity special was a ratings winner last year.