The Stage

BBC promotes Harwood to controller of series and serials

Published Thursday 10 July 2008 at 15:25 by Matthew Hemley

The BBC’s drama production department has announced a restructure of its senior staff, with head of series and serials Kate Harwood promoted to the role of controller of series and serials.

In her new post, Harwood, who already oversees series such as Cranford and Lark Rise to Candleford, will take charge of single films across the whole of BBC drama production.

Single dramas were formally the responsibility of John Yorke, controller of BBC drama production, who has also been given a new remit as part of the restructure and is now controller of drama production and new talent.

While remaining editorially responsible for continuing drama series such as EastEnders and Holby, the Corporation said he will “spearhead a four-fold expansion in activity for writer, producer, director and script editor training.”

He will also co-ordinate and oversee an expansion of the BBC’s Writers’ Academy to include the nations and regions.

BBC creative director of new writing Kate Rowlands will work with Yorke to ensure writers’ training is linked up across the whole of the UK.

Both Yorke and Harwood will report to Nicolas Brown, director of drama production.

Peter Salmon, BBC head of vision productions, said: “The brilliant recent performance of BBC drama production is one of the big success stories of in-house programme-making. To cope with the pressures of their growing business, I have asked Nicolas Brown to lead the senior team as director of drama production and set out their strategy for the next few years, including growing the slate of titles, driving production modernisation and building commercial revenue.”

Salmon added: “He will sit on the board of Vision Productions to make sure drama gets the credit and profile it needs to continue to deliver strongly. He leads an outstanding top team.”