Comcast’s UK-owned pay-TV giant Sky is reshuffling its unscripted pack.
Shirley Jones has been promoted to the newly created role of Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the SNL UK network, with Barbara Lee will leave her role as a commissioning editor in October after 14 years. Her exit follows that of Dwayne Easton in March.
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With Jones and Easton both leaving, Phil Edgar Jones, Executive Director of Original Unscripted at Sky told staff that he had “taken the opportunity to review our overall team structure in entertainment,” and designed a new structure.
This will see Jones responsible for commissioning all entertainment programmes, reporting to Edgar Jones. Additionally, Sky will be hiring for a trio of new roles: development executive, development producer and executive producer. Edgar Jones made an announcement internally a short while ago.
Jones joined Sky in 2015 has been responsible for shows such as Dynamo is Dead, Miracles and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, which she revived. More recently The Dyers’ Caravan Park became Sky’s biggest entertainment launch in five years, surpassing 1 million viewers in all episodes.
“Shirley’s instincts for entertainment are second-to-none, and her ability nurture long-term relationships with talent and build series in to an ‘it can only be Sky’ form are two of her brilliant strengths,” said Edgar Jones in the note. “I am excited to see Shirley thrive in this new role and to bring her passion, tenacity and warmth to our slate of super-charged entertainment.”
Edgar Jones was also keen to praise the outgoing Lee, saying her “impact on Sky cannot be overstated.
Shows credited to her include A League of Their Own, There’s Something About Movies, Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham, Rob & Romesh Vs, and Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle.
“Barbara also played a central role in the relaunch of Sky Arts,” he added. “Her passion for the arts, trademark instinct and exceptional relationships helped transform the channel into the success it is today, elevating the channel’s ambition, reputation, and reach.”
Edgar Jones said “a renewed chapter of Entertainment at Sky” was forthcoming as he rallied the troops for the future.
“I also wanted to take a moment to recognise how the big swings we have taken recently have really landed. Of course, much has been written and said about SNL UK and the reception we have received from audiences and from the industry has been phenomenal, all whilst supporting brand-new British comedy talent. And to be able to recommission The Dyers’ Caravan Park so quickly off the back of the success of S1 is a real joy and I truly believe that audiences will see Gemma Collins in a new way when we launch her series later this year.
“We are, of course, still in the market for new, scalable formats and Shirley’s commission of 100 Day Split – a bold new relationship series – is breaking daring new ground for us at Sky and I believe has the potential to truly cut through. It really is something that you can’t not talk about.”
Edgar Jones oversees all unscripted content at Sky, and has been in the headlines over recent months as the commissioner of SNL UK, which has been among the most discussed originals on British TV this year. The first season ends on Saturday after eight episodes, with Ncuti Gatwa stepping in as host. A second season has been ordered and will run to 12 episodes later this year.
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