´óÏó´«Ã½

Gwyneth Williams has been appointed Controller of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 7.

Gwyneth, until recently Director of ´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service English, will join in September and report to Tim Davie, Director ´óÏó´«Ã½ Audio & Music.

Tim Davie said: "I'm delighted to announce Gwyneth's appointment as Controller of Radio 4 and Radio 7. Gwyneth is an editorial leader of the highest calibre and a passionate supporter of Radio 4. She brings vast broadcasting experience, tremendous intelligence and a fresh perspective to one of the biggest jobs in broadcasting, and I look forward to working with her in building on Mark Damazer's success."

Gwyneth Williams said: "Radio 4 represents the ´óÏó´«Ã½ at its best: it is loved and trusted and stands above all for quality. It is a privilege and honour to be asked to lead the network through the next stage of its evolution. I am hugely looking forward to working with so many talented programme-makers, each with a unique contribution to make. I want to ensure that this creativity shows on air and delights and inspires our listeners."

As Director of ´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service English, Gwyneth has been responsible for all the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s international radio programmes in English and for the 13 streams which deliver that output to its 40 million listeners around the globe. She took up the post in July 2007, prior to which she was Head of Radio Current Affairs and Editor of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Reith Lectures – running a department including programmes such as File On 4, Analysis, From Our Own Correspondent, Crossing Continents, 5 Live Report, Money Box and In Business.

Gwyneth started her career in Bush House as a trainee talks writer in 1976, rapidly moving to become producer and duty editor of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4's The World Tonight. Later, as Deputy Editor, Special Current Affairs Programmes, she worked on a range of programmes including election coverage.

As Editor, Policy and Social Programmes from 1994 to 1996 she oversaw the launch of current affairs programmes on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live, edited Radio 4 flagship programmes including The Week In Westminster and worked briefly for ´óÏó´«Ã½ One's On The Record. She has also been Editor, Foreign Affairs Radio and bi-media Editor, Home Current Affairs.

At the beginning of her career, Gwyneth worked as a research assistant at the Overseas Development Institute and published two books, one on Southern Africa with Brian Hackland and one on Third World political organisations. She took five years out of formal employment to be with her children in the Eighties. She grew up in South Africa and was educated at St Hugh's College, Oxford.

Gwyneth succeeds Mark Damazer, who will leave the network in September to take up the role of Head of St Peter's College, Oxford.

Notes to Editors

For more comments from Tim Davie on Gwyneth's appointment go to

´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 is a mixed speech service enjoyed by over a 10 million listeners. It broadcasts high quality in-depth news and current affairs programme as well as a wide range of other speech output including comedy, factual and magazine programmes. Radio 4 is also the country's biggest commissioner of drama and readings.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 7 is a digital only network, broadcasting from the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s rich archive of comedy and drama.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 Publicity