The BBC has confirmed its third year of funding of the successful Executive
Producer Programme (EPP) for the Nations and Regions of the
UK bringing the number of participants in the scheme up to 32.
Eleven experienced television producers have been selected to take
part in the high-level training scheme to develop the next generation
of senior production talent throughout the Nations and Regions.
The BBC is investing £170,000 in this year's Executive Producer Programme,
an innovative scheme designed and delivered by the Glasgow-based Research
Centre for Television & Interactivity.
The initiative is one response to the BBC's commitment to increase
network production from outside London.
Candidates have been selected from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
and the English Regions with six of the participants from BBC in-house
departments and five from the independent sector.
One of the posts, for an Independent from the English regions, has
been specially funded by Elaine Bedell, the BBC's Independent Executive
as part of the BBC's on-going commitment to support independent production
companies outside London.
The successful participants from Scotland are:
Andrew Thompson, BBC Scotland;
Dorothy Parker, BBC Scotland;
John O'Callaghan, Angel Eye Scotland.
From Northern Ireland:
Paul McGuigan, BBC Northern Ireland;
Maggie Gibson, Brian Waddell Productions.
From Wales:
Tim Green, BBC Wales;
Lucie Donahue, Freelance Producer.
From English Regions:
Emma Worthington, BBC Manchester;
Tony Parker, BBC English Regions;
Cesca Eaton, Freelance Producer;
Emma Wakefield, Lambent Productions.
The year-long training schedule of events and sessions is co-ordinated
and delivered by the Research Centre and comprises monthly masterclasses,
workshops and specialist training.
The networking opportunities of the scheme are central to its success.
Over the two years the programme has been operating, channel controllers,
genre commissioners and executives from production, finance and business
affairs have all shared their expertise to bring the participating producers'
knowledge and understanding to the highest levels.
Speakers of note include: Jana Bennett, BBC Director
of Television; Jane Lush, BBC Controller Commissioning
Entertainment; Alison Sharman, Controller of Daytime,
BBC ONE & TWO; Jeff Henry, CEO Hallmark Television
and Stephen Leahy, Chairman, Ludus Entertainment.
Colin Cameron, BBC Controller of Network Development for Nations and
Regions, said of the scheme:
"Quality executive producers committed to working outside the M25 are
essential to the health and diversity of UK broadcasting.
"The EPP is proving to be a dynamic part of the BBC's increased
commitment to network production from the Nations and Regions, and I'm
delighted that we are supporting this for a third, and equally successful
year."
Carol Sinclair, Director of the Research Centre, commented:
"One of the great strengths of the EPP is its mix of delegates from
the BBC and the independent sector. This is the only scheme of its kind
in the UK and it's great that the BBC is making this continued investment
in executive producer talent."
Elaine Bedell, the BBC's Independent Executive, commented:
"The BBC is determined to help and support production companies and
bases outside London. We want to see an increased level of production
from the regions and providing training of this sort, at this senior
level, will mean that there can be increased broadcaster confidence
in the talent and experience of production staff in the regions."
The Executive Producer Programme begins later this month.
Notes to Editors
The Research Centre is an independent company with charity status that
works with broadcasters, producers and others in the creative industries
to develop business and talent in the sector.
The Centre designs and delivers a slate of high-end training programmes
and undertakes keynote research for the industry.
Biographies and photographs of the producers selected for this year's
Executive Producer Programme are available, for media use only, from
the Research Centre.
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