Five Entertainment Controller Quits

Andrew Newman, controller of entertainment at Channel Five is to quit the channel and is expected to join Channel 4.

Newman is to leave his post when his contract expires at the end of October and seems likely to team up with Five’s former programme director, Kevin Lygo, who is moving to Channel 4 to become director of television.

Sham Sandhu is to take temporary charge of Five s entertainment output after the channel reached a mutual agreement with Newman.

Commenting on his departure, director of programmes, Dan Chambers, said: “Andrew is a very talented commissioner who has been responsible for some highly distinctive and creative programming.”

Newman added: “I’ve had a great two years at Five but I feel the time is right for me to move on and try something new. I’ve very much enjoyed working with Dan and the rest of the programming team and feel we have made some ground-breaking and memorable shows.”

During his time at Five Newman has commissioned a variety of new programming, including the controversial reality-TV style crime show, Swag and 99 Things To Do Before You Die.

Channel 4’s head of entertainment, John McHugh, became the latest senior executive to leave the station earlier this month (see McHugh Departs Channel 4 Ahead Of Lygo’s Arrival).

His departure came just weeks after head of Channel 4’s entertainment group and controller of E4, Danielle Lux, stepped down following a change in the broadcaster’s entertainment commissioning structure (see Channel 4 Loses Head Of Entertainment Following Shake-Up).

Channel Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv

Recent Television Stories from NewsLine ITV Secures Exclusive Terrestrial Rights To England Match BSkyB To Launch Global Search For New Chief Executive Government Details Root And Branch Review Of BBC

Subscribers can access ten years of NewsLine articles by clicking the Search button to the left