´óÏó´«Ã½

Jon Beazley, Controller of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Entertainment Production, today announced that Marion Farrelly and Rachel Arnold have been appointed as Editors of Entertainment.

Within their new roles, Marion and Rachel will be responsible for delivering and managing a raft of programmes across both the Entertainment and Factual Entertainment portfolio.

Reporting in to Martin Scott, Head of Format Entertainment, and Clare Pizey, Head of Factual Entertainment, they will also be responsible for shaping the development activity of both genres and supporting the Heads in managing the career development of the department's talent both on and off screen.

These roles are a response to new commissions and a need to review the Entertainment department's senior management structure to support these new shows – and to sustain the existing brands the department is already producing.

Jon Beazley said: "Both Marion and Rachel bring a wealth of experience of top flight production and we're thrilled to have them join us. Their work across the industry in various demanding and high-profile roles gives them unrivalled experience, and will be a real asset to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Entertainment Production in continuing to surprise the audience with new and innovative shows."

Marion Farrelly said of her new post: "I'm very excited about returning to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and to be taking on a fantastic new role in a very strong and dynamic Entertainment team."

Rachel Arnold added: "I am delighted to be joining such a talented team and can't wait to work with them on devising and producing a broad spectrum of innovative and exciting new programmes."

Marion most recently worked as Executive Producer on It Takes Two, the daily spin-off show for Strictly Come Dancing. Prior to this Marion worked as a Development and Executive Producer for Step Up To The Plate for ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

Marion, who specialises in big format entertainment shows and particularly live shows, oversaw a number of series of Big Brother in both the UK and Australia, as well as the UK spin-off Big Brother's Little Brother. She also worked on the first series of Restoration for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

Rachel was most recently Controller of Entertainment at Whizz Kid, a position she held since 2006.

Prior to this Rachel was Executive Producer for ITV working across a host of shows including: I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Love Island and Celebrity Love Island, and she was promoted to series editor on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2004, having spent a year working as series producer on the show, as well as on Hell's Kitchen and Fame Academy for ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Marion will take up her post after Easter and Rachel will join the team in July.

These appointments follow the announcement of Matt Tombs, who has recently been appointed Business Strategy Executive.

CP