Two Key Figures At Five Set To Leave

The controller of features and entertainment, Ben Frow, and the controller of special events and pop features, Sham Sandhu, are expected to announce their departure from Five imminently.

Frow was hired by Five in 2003 from Channel 4, while Sandhu joined in 2000 from the BBC, where he was head of new media and new channels.

On Friday, the broadcaster announced that it was to restructure its programming team and that the company was searching for a director of programmes for its main channel (see Five Restructures Programming Team).

In the middle of last week, Five announced it would replace Nick Thorogood, controller of its digital channels Five Life and Five US, with Hannah Barnes, currently managing editor of Sky One, Two and Three (see Five Digital Controller Replaced).

Thorogood is instead being asked to work as part of the channels’ commissioning teams and across a range of projects but has no official title as yet.

Five’s search for a new director of programmes has seen candidates such as the Living director of programmes, Claudia Rosencrantz; the Sky One, Two and Three director of programmes, Richard Woolfe; and Chris Shaw, the Five senior programme controller and head of news, current affairs and documentaries, flagged up for the role.

The director of programmes will oversee the commissioners for children, comedy, factual, sport, news and current affairs and factual entertainment.

The head of factual role is also being vacated, following Justine Kershaw’s announcement in January that she is leaving to set up her own production company.

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv