Category: Factual & Arts TV; Scotland
Date: 15.06.2006
Printable version
Jill Fullerton-Smith - who was responsible for developing and producing a string of BBC's best known specialist factual programmes such as Killer
Dinosaurs, Jimmy's Farm and Little
Angels - is joining BBC Scotland's Factual team as a Creative Director.
Currently Executive Producer for BBC Science in London, and whose drama doc credits include Space
Race and Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, Fullerton-Smith will join BBC
Scotland in January 2007 as Creative Director, Specialist Factual.
Working to BBC Scotland's Head of Factual, Andrea Miller, and alongside Neil
McDonald, who will become Creative Director, Factual, Fullerton-Smith will be responsible for developing a raft of new history and science programmes as part of the plan to significantly increase network programming from Scotland.
The BBC's Out-of-London strategy commits the BBC to increase network production from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 11 per cent to 17 per cent by 2012 as part of a plan to increase total spending in the Nations and Regions by a third - to more than £1bn over the next ten years.
At the same time McDonald will be responsible for documentaries, daytime and nurturing new programme-making talent across a £6m slate of network and BBC Scotland output.
McDonald, whose credits as executive producer include Coast, Castle
in the Country and Days That
Shook the World, is to boost his in-house team with the addition of respected
programme makers, David Peat and Ross
Wilson.
Peat's Tern TV/BBC Scotland co-production Gutted won a Scottish Bafta while Wilson won a Bafta with After Lockerbie and the RTS Best Documentary for his film on the Scottish Parliamentary elections.
Culture Show series producer Marcus
Herbert will also
join the in-house Scotland Arts team as permanent staff.
Andrea Miller welcomed the arrival of New Zealander Fullerton-Smith:
"The expansion of the BBC's output outside London must be driven by talent.
"I am really excited about Jill joining us, as
I believe she will bring great expertise and creative energy to our
growth in Specialist Factual.
"We are creating a base for excellence
in factual programming here in BBC Scotland with these new signings,
all of whom are highly respected programme makers."
And Jill Fullerton-Smith is looking forward to her move:
"Immediately I heard that the BBC was looking for somebody to build a centre of excellence around Specialist Factual programming for Scotland I knew it was a job I absolutely wanted. I am absolutely delighted."
BBC Scotland Press Office
