The BBC has confirmed its third year of funding of the successful Executive Producer Programme (EPP) for the Nations and Regions of the UK bringing the number of participants in the scheme up to 32.
Eleven experienced television producers have been selected to take part in the high-level training scheme to develop the next generation of senior production talent throughout the Nations and Regions.
The BBC is investing £170,000 in this year's Executive Producer Programme, an innovative scheme designed and delivered by the Glasgow-based Research Centre for Television & Interactivity.
The initiative is one response to the BBC's commitment to increase network production from outside London.
Candidates have been selected from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English Regions with six of the participants from BBC in-house departments and five from the independent sector.
One of the posts, for an Independent from the English regions, has been specially funded by Elaine Bedell, the BBC's Independent Executive as part of the BBC's on-going commitment to support independent production companies outside London.
The successful participants from Scotland are:
Andrew Thompson, BBC Scotland;
Dorothy Parker, BBC Scotland;
John O'Callaghan, Angel Eye Scotland.
From Northern Ireland:
Paul McGuigan, BBC Northern Ireland;
Maggie Gibson, Brian Waddell Productions.
From Wales:
Tim Green, BBC Wales;
Lucie Donahue, Freelance Producer.
From English Regions:
Emma Worthington, BBC Manchester;
Tony Parker, BBC English Regions;
Cesca Eaton, Freelance Producer;
Emma Wakefield, Lambent Productions.
The year-long training schedule of events and sessions is co-ordinated and delivered by the Research Centre and comprises monthly masterclasses, workshops and specialist training.
The networking opportunities of the scheme are central to its success.
Over the two years the programme has been operating, channel controllers, genre commissioners and executives from production, finance and business affairs have all shared their expertise to bring the participating producers' knowledge and understanding to the highest levels.
Speakers of note include: Jana Bennett, BBC Director of Television; Jane Lush, BBC Controller Commissioning Entertainment; Alison Sharman, Controller of Daytime, BBC ONE & TWO; Jeff Henry, CEO Hallmark Television and Stephen Leahy, Chairman, Ludus Entertainment.
Colin Cameron, BBC Controller of Network Development for Nations and Regions, said of the scheme:
"Quality executive producers committed to working outside the M25 are essential to the health and diversity of UK broadcasting.
"The EPP is proving to be a dynamic part of the BBC's increased commitment to network production from the Nations and Regions, and I'm delighted that we are supporting this for a third, and equally successful year."
Carol Sinclair, Director of the Research Centre, commented:
"One of the great strengths of the EPP is its mix of delegates from the BBC and the independent sector. This is the only scheme of its kind in the UK and it's great that the BBC is making this continued investment in executive producer talent."
Elaine Bedell, the BBC's Independent Executive, commented:
"The BBC is determined to help and support production companies and bases outside London. We want to see an increased level of production from the regions and providing training of this sort, at this senior level, will mean that there can be increased broadcaster confidence in the talent and experience of production staff in the regions."
The Executive Producer Programme begins later this month.
Notes to Editors
The Research Centre is an independent company with charity status that works with broadcasters, producers and others in the creative industries to develop business and talent in the sector.
The Centre designs and delivers a slate of high-end training programmes and undertakes keynote research for the industry.
Biographies and photographs of the producers selected for this year's Executive Producer Programme are available, for media use only, from the Research Centre.
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