Mike
MacFarlane: New Head for BBC London
Mike
MacFarlane has been appointed Executive Editor for BBC London, responsible
for all the BBC's dedicated output for audiences across the capital
- the television news programme BBC London News, radio station BBC
London 94.9FM and BBC London
Online.
For
the past two years Mike has been weekend editor of BBC TV news,
in charge of all BBC network weekend bulletins on both BBC ONE and
BBC News 24.
He
replaces Jane Mote who has been appointed Controller of the Community
Channel.
Mike
says: "I'm delighted to be joining BBC London - particularly
with Emily Maitlis and her team in top form and BBC London 94.9
FM's spectacular listening figures announced last week.
"BBC
London has enjoyed a reputation for innovative programming and strong
journalism and I'm looking forward to playing my part in building
on that success."
Andy
Griffee, Controller English Regions, says: "I am delighted
to welcome Mike into this key role running BBC services for all
those in the London area.
"His
significant achievements and the contribution he has already made
to the success of the BBC speak for themselves and I have no doubt
that he will lead the vibrant, successful and important London region
to even greater things, building on the tremendous success Jane
Mote leaves behind."
Mike's first
taste of the BBC was as a student in 1984 with BBC Radio Highland.
He says: "They gave me a car, a tape recorder and the opportunity
to learn about reporting over the biggest local patch in the country!"
Between
1984 and 1986 he worked as a television presenter at BBC Scotland
and a freelance reporter at BBC Radio Scotland.
After
two years as a BBC trainee, from 1986 to 1988, he joined The World
at One as a producer covering Lockerbie and the 1988 Israeli elections.
From
1988 to 1993 he worked as Senior Producer at the Today programme
and again at The World at One, including a spell at network radio
based in Washington during the Clinton/Bush election campaigns.
As
part of the original launch team for Radio Five Live, in 1994, Mike
played a leading role in establishing the Breakfast Programme, collecting
two Sony awards along the way.
He
has worked at Radio Five Live as Assistant Editor, Breakfast; Politics
Editor; and Editor for Five Live Drive and the midday news (apart
from a stint as Elections Editor for network radio in 1998).
Mike's interests
outside work include his family and watching football (he's an Arsenal
season ticket holder).
Notes
to Editors
Photographs
of Mike MacFarlane are available, for media use only, via the BBC
Press Office.
BBC London News
had a 29% audience share (853,000) in the last quarter of 2002,
compared with 16% (446,000) for ITV's London Tonight.
The
RAJAR figures published on 30 January showed BBC London 94.9FM increased
its listeners by 94,000 in the past year and has also seen its audience
share rise substantially.
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