Remarkable Factual appoints BBC exec as director of programmes

Jo Smith

Banijay-owned UK prodco Remarkable Factual has appointed BBC exec Jo Smith to the new role of director of programmes.

Smith, who currently serves as portfolio editor for BBC Two and BBC Four, will take up the position in the summer, and will report to CEO Kitty Walshe.

In this newly created role, Smith will oversee all current productions and provide support on the day to day running of the company. Working closely with Walshe, she will also help build the label’s development strategy and grow the business.

Smith has more than 15 years’ experience working on leading factual entertainment and popular factual. In her current role, she leads on editorial content strategy across the BBC portfolio – with a particular emphasis on BBC Two, BBC Four and factual and current affairs content and a focus on bringing iPlayer into the centre of commissioning, whilst keeping the linear channels strong and evolving.

Prior to this, Smith was the channel executive at BBC Three, where she was charged with creating and commissioning original, innovative content for BBC Three on iPlayer.

“I am delighted to be joining Remarkable Factual as director of programmes; a company whose output I have long admired. I’m excited to be working with Kitty and her talented team. As well as managing the existing slate of incredible programmes, I look forward to developing and growing the next big factual shows and talent of the future,” said Smith,

“Jo is an incredibly experienced programme maker with a long list of standout credits to her name, but what really sets her apart is her digital first experience. As we make and develop a raft of new, ambitious factual, with innovation at its heart, this knowledge and experience will be invaluable, and I know she will be a huge asset to the team,” added Walshe.