The Stage

ITV Studios appoints new head of arts

Published Thursday 2 September 2010 at 12:40 by Matthew Hemley

Jonathan Levi, former executive producer of The South Bank Show, has been named ITV Studios head of arts and popular culture.

He will report to Alexander Gardiner, creative director of factual and features at ITV Studios, and effectively replaces Melvyn Bragg, who recently retired as controller of arts at ITV Studios.

Levi’s appointment comes despite the fact ITV has closed its Specialist Factual and Arts department, which made The South Bank Show.

John Whiston, ITV Studios creative director, said, “Arts and popular culture programming continue to have an important place in ITV channels’ schedules and ITV Studios’ slate so we are delighted to appoint Jonathan to this pivotal role.”

Gardiner added: “Jonathan has a great deal of experience in producing strong arts and popular culture series that have wide appeal. He has a deft touch with the ability to create programming that is both intellectually stimulating and populist. He already has a number of extremely exciting new shows, both in production and in development, that we look forward to seeing transmitted in the coming months.”

Levi began his career at BBC Radio 4 as a researcher then radio producer for Jeremy Paxman and Melvyn Bragg before joining LWT in 2001 to produce a series of discussion programmes for Channel 4 called The Big Idea.

He joined the South Bank Show team in 2003 and executive produced the last three South Bank Show Awards.