New Head Of Scheduling For Five

Richard Brent, currently the BBC’s head of planning and scheduling daytime and early peak, has been named as Five’s new head of scheduling.

Brent will take up the role scheduling the broadcaster’s core channel later this year.

Five’s managing director, content, Lisa Opie, said: “Richard has a great track record at both the BBC and in commercial television. I know he will be a real asset to the channel in maximising the full potential of every aspect of the schedule.”

Brent said: “I’ve had a hugely enjoyable six years at the BBC but I feel the time is right to tackle a new challenge. I’m really looking forward to working at Five and scheduling its portfolio of exciting programming.”

Brent will report directly to Five’s incoming director of programmes, Jay Hunt, when she joins the channel from the BBC later in the year (see Five Announces New Director Of Programmes).

Brent has held his current position at the BBC since May 2006. His responsibilities were scheduling and strategy across both BBC One and Two daytime and early peak.

From September 2004 until May 2006 he was BBC One schedule manager working with the head of scheduling with particular responsibility for developing and implementing several areas of the schedule, including Sunday afternoons and the post 10.35pm slot.

Following Five’s recent acquisition of hit BBC One soap Neighbours (see Five Takes Neighbours From BBC One For £300m), the channel lost one of its biggest programmes, Prison Break, to Sky One (see Prison Break Escapes To Sky One).

Last month, Five launched a new quiz show called Payday, hosted by radio scamp Colin Murray (see Five Launches New Weekday Quiz Format), and also announced that it had secured the rights to a new US comedy starring X-Files hunk David Duchovny (see Five Gets New Duchovny Comedy).

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv