The BBC is to close the role of director of unscripted and replace it with two roles – director of entertainment and director of factual, Broadcast has learned.
The director of entertainment position will oversee entertainment, daytime, factual entertainment and events while the director of factual will manage documentaries, specialist factual and arts, and classical music TV. The decision has been to meet the “strategic demand”, according to an internal email sent by content chief Kate Phillips, seen by Broadcast.
The two roles are to be advertised this week and will be open to internal and external candidates, with the BBC encouraging people from outside of London to apply, as part of its commitment to the regions. The first round of interviews are anticipated to take place before Christmas.
When the positions are filled the BBC will also close the editor of unscripted post, which is currently held on an interim basis by Michael Jochnowitz.
Phillips was director of unscripted for three years before being formally named as chief content officer this year. Syeda Irtizaali spent around six months acting up as in the role, but is leaving the corporation for Netflix UK, to lead its unscripted slate in the new year.
Since her departure was revealed in September, controller of youth audience for iPlayer and BBC3 Fiona Campbell has taken on the acting role.
It is understood the entertainment and factual directors will not affect the current heads of commissioning for each genre and the BBC will update on how the changes affect individuals working across the unscripted portfolio in due course.
“I believe the new roles will bring big benefits to your individual genres, giving you as much support as possible,” said Phillips.
“I do think the many producers, creatives and partners you all work with will see the advantages of two directors, resulting in those people being able to give more time and focus to them all.”