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Kate Townsend has been appointed as the new executive producer for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four's flagship international documentary strand Storyville.

Kate will be responsible for developing and delivering commissions for Storyville, both from the UK and from producers throughout the world, maintaining the highest standards for the critically acclaimed strand and reporting to Storyville editor Nick Fraser.

Storyville has developed an enviable reputation since its inception more than a decade ago. Screening over 340 films, from some 70 different countries, the strand has garnered a staggering array of awards – five Oscars, 15 Griersons, three Peabodys and two International Emmys, including a recent win for The English Surgeon. Storyville delivers an eclectic mix of compelling stories from across the globe.

Kate has experience of directing and producing a wide range of factual programmes, including Paddington Green, Louis Theroux's Weird Weekend and films in the This World and Cutting Edge strands. She won the 2007 RTS award for best current affairs documentary for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two's Power To The People.

Most recently, she has been series producer on Horizon.

Nick Fraser, editor of Storyville, says: "Kate has an impressive record of producing, directing and supervising the making of documentaries. She will be a terrific executive producer. She is also a free spirit and that appeals to us at Storyville."

Kate Townsend says: "I have always been a huge admirer of the quality and distinctiveness of the Storyville strand. I'm delighted to be given the chance to work on such a broad slate of documentaries and am very excited about joining the team in January and working closely with filmmakers throughout the industry."

Kate takes on the role previously occupied by Greg Sanderson, who was appointed executive producer for The Review Show. She assumes her new role on 4 January 2011.

A new Storyville run begins on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four in early January with six brand-new films including: Secrets Of The Tribe, which delves into one of the greatest controversies to rock the world of anthropology, uncovering horrendous secrets long buried; Out Of The Ashes, tracing the extraordinary journey of the Afghan cricket team as they chase a seemingly impossible dream; and Pablo's Hippos, the intriguing story of drugs baron Pablo Escobar told from the perspective of one of the hippos living in his zoo.

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