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The ´óÏó´«Ã½ today announced five new appointments to the new Knowledge Commissioning team and a new Head of Religion in ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio.

Aaqil Ahmed has been appointed to the new joint role of Head of Religion and Ethics and Commissioning Editor for Religion TV.

Aaqil is currently Commissioning Editor for Religion and Multicultural at Channel 4. Recent programmes he has commissioned include Christianity: A History, The Qur'an and the BAFTA-winning Saving Africa's Witch Children.

And, as part of a series of measures to strengthen the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Religious programmes, Christine Morgan has been appointed Executive Editor and Head of Religion Radio.

Christine Morgan has been Executive Producer, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Religion and Ethics (Radio) since 2004 and is responsible for all religious programmes on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2, 3 and 4.

Mark Bell becomes Commissioning Editor for Arts.

Currently Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual, Independents, Mark ran Late Review and Newsnight Review (´óÏó´«Ã½ Two) before moving into the Music and Arts Department. Recent commissions include Ian Hislop's Changing Of The Bard (´óÏó´«Ã½ Four) as part of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Poetry Season and Ian Hislop Goes Off The Rails, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four's highest-rating factual programme to date.

Charlotte Moore has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Documentaries.

Charlotte is currently acting in this role and her recent commissions include Desperately Hungry Housewives (´óÏó´«Ã½ One), Tribal Wives (´óÏó´«Ã½ Two) and Terry Pratchett On Alzheimer's (´óÏó´«Ã½ Two).

Creative Executive Producer for ´óÏó´«Ã½ London Factual, Kim Shillinglaw, becomes Commissioning Editor for Science and Natural History.

Kim is currently overseeing ´óÏó´«Ã½ One's new Science Show (working title), ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two's Incredible Human Journey and the BAFTA-nominated Blood And Guts (´óÏó´«Ã½ Four).

Harry Lansdown, former Executive Producer, Factual Independents, has been appointed Commissioning Editor for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Three Factual Features and Formats.

Harry has recently commissioned a series of high-profile documentaries for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Three including Britain's Missing Top Model, The World's Strictest Parents and the award-winning Blood Sweat And T-Shirts.

George Entwistle, Controller, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Knowledge Commissioning, said: "I am delighted to be announcing these new appointments.

"We now have a really strong team boasting some of the best talent and expertise in the business.

"Their vision, creative energy and knowledge of programme makers in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and the independent community will enable them to commission the very best factual programmes."

Jana Bennett, Director, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Vision, said: "The specialist territories for which these jobs commission go to the very heart of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s public purposes. George Entwistle and Emma Swain have put together a commissioning team with such a high level of expertise and energy that we will be in a great position to deliver lively and distinctive factual content across the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s whole portfolio of television channels and online."

The new Commissioning Editors join Martin Davidson, Commissioning Editor for History and Business, and Jo Ball, Commissioning Editor for Features, ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two, who were appointed earlier this year.

The team will be run by Emma Swain, Head of Knowledge Commissioning, who was also appointed earlier this year.

The role of Commissioning Editor Music and Events has yet to be filled and will be announced in due course.

DP