BBC Worldwide today announced the appointment of BBC Head of Entertainment Group, Wayne Garvie, as its new Director of Content and Production. Wayne will take over responsibility for a number of business activities from Deputy CEO, Mike Phillips, who retires at the end of March 2006.

 

Wayne will assume responsibility for securing and producing content for the company, including managing our vital investment relationships with BBC Production and with Independents. He will also drive the development of an international production and format business for BBC Worldwide.

 

Wayne has been the Head of Entertainment Group for four years. In that time, the department has been transformed, with a new generation of creative leaders and a host of innovative new shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Dragons' Den, Honey, We're Killing the Kids, Hardspell and The House of Tiny Tearaways. In addition, long-established favourites such as The Weakest Link, A Question of Sport, Mastermind, Eurovision, Later with Jools Holland and Glastonbury coverage continue to flourish.

 

BBC Entertainment's Saturday night smash, Strictly Come Dancing, is now a hit series in 20 countries from Argentina to New Zealand. Wayne has actively supported the international roll-out, particularly the US version titled Dancing with the Stars for ABC where he worked closely with producer, Richard Hopkins and the BBC Worldwide teams in London and Los Angeles. The Entertainment team are also making US versions of Honey... and One Week to Save Your Marriage in New York.

 

Before becoming Head of Entertainment Group in 2001, Wayne was Head of Entertainment and Features for BBC Manchester, where he developed the I Love... franchise. In that role he repositioned BBC Manchester as a key supplier of entertainment programmes for both the BBC and its commercial partners worldwide.

 

He joined BBC Manchester in August 1998 from Granada Television where he had worked in the Sports, Regional, Factual, and Entertainment divisions before being appointed Director of Broadcasting in 1997.

 

John Smith, CEO, BBC Worldwide, said: "In a world where TV channels are proliferating and technology is constantly delivering new ways for people to access media, the key competitive advantage for BBC Worldwide will continue to be great content.

 

"Wayne's track record in producing and commissioning outstanding shows, plus his experience in developing these for international markets, make him the perfect candidate for this role. We are delighted to welcome him to BBC Worldwide at a hugely exciting time for the company as we expand into digital formats and new markets worldwide."

 

Alan Yentob, Creative Director, BBC, said: "Wayne has made a fantastic contribution to BBC Entertainment over the past four years. He has built up a great team and introduced an array of innovative programming for BBC One, Two and Three. From Dragon's Den to Tiny Tearaways to Strictly Come Dancing. We are all looking forward to working with him in his new role with BBC Worldwide."

 

Wayne Garvie said: "I've enjoyed four wonderful years as Head of Entertainment, but this is one challenge that I couldn't resist. Television is now truly a global business and I aim to ensure that the best of British content and formats gets the global exposure and rewards our producers deserve."

 

Garvie will take up his new post, which is a Board position, at the end of January 2006, reporting to John Smith. Mike Phillips will continue to be Deputy Chief Executive until his retirement.

 

John Smith said: "Mike has made an outstanding contribution to BBC Worldwide during his time with us and is highly regarded as an industry guru. BBC Worldwide has benefited hugely from his knowledge, judgement and business acumen over the past nine years and we will miss him very much."

 

Notes to editors:

BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

 

The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC's assets across all media and markets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights.

 

In 2004/05 BBC Worldwide earned £55m in profits on sales of £706m, returning £145m in cash to the BBC from its six business operations: Global TV Channels, Global TV Sales, BBC Magazines, Home Entertainment, Children's and New Media.

 

 

BBC WORLDWIDE