Five Picks Chambers As New Director Of Programmes
Five has appointed head of factual, Dan Chambers, as its new director of programmes, replacing the outgoing Kevin Lygo, who is leaving to return to Channel 4 (see Lygo Set To Return To Channel 4).
Chambers joined Five in November 2001 and has been responsible for commissioning programmes such as Britain’s Finest, World War One In Colour and Battlefield Detectives. He was also instrumental in poaching BBC1’s Top Gear team to front the channel’s rival Fifth Gear programme.
Commenting on his appointment, Chambers said: “I’m delighted to have been given this great opportunity to lead what I think is the best programming team working in British broadcasting. Five is a great success story and I look forward to building on the channel’s ever growing reputation as a home of creativity and innovation.”
Chambers will be supported by Five’s director of acquisitions, Jeff Ford, who has been promoted to the role of managing editor. The new position will see him deputise for the director of programmes, run the department’s finances and look after staff development and training. He will also continue with his existing responsibilities as director of acquisitions.
Ford joined Five in November 1997 from ITV Network Centre, where he had been controller of acquisitions since January 1995. During his time at Five, Ford has been responsible for acquiring a number of hit shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Shield and Boomtown.
Five’s chief executive, Jan Lighting said: “Dan has exceptional ability and has been an important part of the Five creative team that has commissioned so successfully for us, whilst Jeff’s experience and judgement of acquired programming has made him pre-eminent in his field. Together, and with the rest of the programming department, they will form a formidable force.”
It is thought that the pair will continue Kevin Lygo’s strategy of attempting to take the channel upmarket, by reducing its reliance on erotic drama and low budget films. Lygo recently made his final move to distance the channel from its downmarket image and announced plans to drop all remaining softcore pornographic content from the schedules (see Lygo Strips Channel Five Of All Adult Content).
Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv
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