 |
Press Releases
Jay Hunt named as new Controller of ´óÏó´«Ã½ One
|
Jana Bennett, Director of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Vision, today announced Jay Hunt as the new Controller, ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.
Ìý
Jana Bennett said: "I am really pleased to welcome Jay back to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to take up the reins of the UK's most popular channel and the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s flagship channel.
Ìý
"She has impeccable credentials as a commissioner, channel leader and journalist and has a deep commitment to the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s mission to bring the best programmes to the widest audience.
Ìý
"I am sure she will be greeted with huge enthusiasm by programme makers inside and outside the ´óÏó´«Ã½, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Vision and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ One team."
Ìý
Commenting on her appointment, Jay Hunt said: "Controller of ´óÏó´«Ã½ One has always been my dream job. Ultimately, I could not resist the opportunity to take on such a creatively exciting role. I am thrilled to be part of the channel's future.
Ìý
"It has been an incredibly difficult decision to leave my talented team at Five but I could not turn down the best job in television."
Ìý
Jay was appointed Director of Programmes at Five in 2007.
Ìý
Prior to this she was ´óÏó´«Ã½ Controller Daytime and Early Peak with responsibility for all output on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and Two during the day, including The One Show.
Ìý
She was a member of the senior management team in ´óÏó´«Ã½ Vision determining commissioning and portfolio strategy for TV and multiplatform services.
Ìý
As Controller Daytime and Early Peak, she maintained ´óÏó´«Ã½ One's position as the market leader and commissioned breakthrough factual brands like Great British Menu, Extreme Dreams, Heir Hunters and the Royal Television Society award-winning Through Hell And High Water.
Ìý
She brought consumer journalism back to Daytime with hit shows like Don't Get Done Get Dom, What's Really In Our Food? and Shopping The Supermarkets which transferred to ´óÏó´«Ã½ One peak.
Ìý
She introduced serious documentary with pieces like the Broadcast award-nominated Surviving 2005: My Story and Richard Hammond's Helicopter Heroes.
Ìý
In drama and entertainment Jay developed the Afternoon Play strand into The Director's Debut – with big name talent like Sarah Parish and Stephen Tompkinson directing for the first time – and developed successful entertainment for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two with key brands like Eggheads, Let Me Entertain You, Identity with Donny Osmond and Something For The Weekend which transformed Sunday morning viewing, delivering a younger audience to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.
Ìý
She was instrumental in transforming ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two's early evening performance, growing brands like Masterchef into hit shows in peak.
Ìý
Jay joined the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in 1989 as a researcher on Breakfast News and worked her way up to output editor before joining Newsnight, where she stayed until 1998.
Ìý
She then moved to Panorama as a senior producer, becoming Editor of the One O'Clock News and then the Six O'Clock News.
Ìý
At the One O'Clock News, she was given a remit to change the programme to fit more comfortably with the stay-at-home audience.
Ìý
She changed the programme agenda fundamentally and introduced ground-breaking studio graphics which, though controversial at the time, have now become a feature of news programming across the board.
Ìý
She left news for Daytime in 2002, working first as Executive Producer for Daytime in Birmingham before becoming Senior Commissioning Executive for Daytime in 2003 where she worked closely with a range of independents to develop hit brands like Missing, Living In The Sun and Beat The Burglar.
Ìý
She will take up her new role sometime next year.
Ìý
´óÏó´«Ã½ Press Office
Ìý
|
Printable version