ITV Appoints New Controller Of Entertainment
ITV has confirmed that John Kaye Cooper will become the broadcaster’s new controller of entertainment.
He will be responsible for commissioning and developing ITV’s extensive stable of entertainment programming, reporting directly to Paul Jackson, director of entertainment and comedy.
His slate of ITV shows will include Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor, Harry Hill’s TV Burp, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Al Murray’s Happy Hour and a number of new series including Beat The Star.
Cooper started his career with Scottish Television and as a producer/director his credits are many and varied. He created and produced Russ Abbot’s Madhouse, one of ITV’s biggest variety/comedy series of the 80s which also launched the TV careers of Michael Barrymore, Les Dennis and Dustin Gee.
In 1984, he joined TVS as controller of entertainment, launching the solo television careers of Brian Conley, Matthew Kelly, and Bobby Davro. He also produced prime-time network entertainment hits including Catchphrase.
As controller of entertainment and comedy at LWT, Cooper had responsibility for many of ITV’s top prime-time series including Blind Date, Beadle’s About and It’ll Be Alright On The Night. In 1991 he signed Michael Barrymore and also built Gladiators into one of the iconic TV hits of the 90s.
He left LWT to become MD of Talent Television in 1996, the company that has been at the forefront of the development of innovative programme formats, including Test The Nation which became the interactive prime time flagship of BBC One and BBCi.
Paul Jackson said: “John Kaye Cooper is one of the most respected names in entertainment broadcasting and I’m delighted that we’ve persuaded him to come back to ITV. Entertainment programming is key to the ITV schedule and John’s experience and enthusiasm make him the perfect person to take on this role at such an exciting time.”
It was announced last month that the former entertainment controller, Duncan Gray, was to leave the commercial broadcaster after two years (see Entertainment Controller Leaves ITV).
ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com