ITV’s Pickard Steps Down After Three Years

ITV’s director of programmes, Nigel Pickard, has announced his intention to leave the broadcaster after three years, dealing a further blow to the company, which yesterday lost one of its biggest stars, Paul O’Grady.

Pickard re-joined ITV in February 2003 (see ITV Appoints New Director Of Programmes), following a two year career as the BBC’s controller of CBBC.

During his time at ITV, Pickard and his team brought a range of high profile shows to the network, with particular successes including The X Factor, Doc Martin, Hell’s Kitchen, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Christmas Lights, and the Paul O’Grady Show.

The outgoing director was also responsible for the ‘golden handcuff’ deals securing chat show king Michael Parkinson (see BBC Loses Parkinson To ITV After More Than 30 Years) and music mogul Simon Cowell in exclusive contracts to ITV (see ITV Signs Simon Cowell For Two Years).

Pickard is also the man behind Ant and Dec’s success as TV stars, introducing them first as the hosts of kids show SM:TV, before moving them to primetime where they have become two of ITV’s biggest names. The outgoing programme boss also negotiated the Boat Race’s move from the BBC to ITV last year (see ITV Snatches Boat Race Broadcast Rights From BBC), as well as new deals for Formula One and Champions’ League football.

Commenting on Pickard’s departure, Simon Shaps, director of television at ITV said: “Nigel is one of the most popular and most respected executives in the industry. Three years is a long time in what is an incredibly demanding position and I understand entirely his reasons for wanting to seek a new challenge. He leaves on a high having overseen one of the strongest autumn schedules ITV has had for many years.”

Charles Allen, chief executive of ITV added: “Nigel has done a tremendous job in one of the most difficult posts in British television. Under his leadership ITV1 has held its own in a fiercely competitive environment, ITV2 has become the biggest digital channel in the country and ITV3 and ITV4 both launched with record-breaking audiences. We wish him all the very best with his next venture.”

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