Factual commissioning
Our commissioning briefs and contacts across factual genres
No other broadcaster has such an extraordinary breadth of factual content: our programming is watched by millions of viewers, receives international recognition and drives real change. We're committed to championing new talent and bringing audiences distinctive, unique programmes reflecting their lives and opening up the world to them.
UK audiences come to us as the home of factual content. Last year seven out of the top 10 factual titles across all broadcasters came from us including the top two series.
BBC iPlayer is at the heart of everything we do, and before any idea is commissioned we thoroughly interrogate its potential on the platform, and we expect all pitches to have iPlayer considersations baked in from the start.
We invest in new indies and those based outside London via the Small Indie Fund and co-commissions with the Nations and have named commissioning leads for suppliers in each region. We grow new talent on and off screen via schemes including our New Documentary Directors' scheme, BBC Three Pitch at the Sheffield Doc/Fest and the Diverse Talent Development Fund.
Our commissioning briefs and opportunities
Our commissioning team
Arts and classical music commissioners
Suzy Klein
Head of Commissioning, Arts and Classical Music
Mark Bell
Commissioning Editor
Alistair Pegg
Commissioning Editor
Stephen James-Yeoman
Commissioning Executive
Amanda Goodman
Assistant Commissioner
Current affairs commissioners
Read our brief
Gian Quaglieni
Commissioning Editor (current affairs TV)
Sarah Waldron
Executive Producer, This World
Claire Hughes
Commissioning Executive
Adam Grimley
Executive Producer, Panorama
Documentary commissioners
Clare Sillery
Head of Commissioning, Documentaries
Emma Loach
Commissioning Editor
Beejal Patel
Commissioning Editor
Carl Callam
Commissioning Editor
Anna Dickeson
Commissioning Editor
Fran Baker
Commissioning Editor
Tom Pullen
Commissioning Editor
History commissioners
Jack Bootle
Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual
Simon Young
Head of History
Factual entertainment and events commissioners
Catherine Catton
Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events
Ricky Cooper
Commissioning Editor
Patrick McMahon
Commissioning Editor
Julie Shaw
Commissioning Editor
Jasmyn McGuile
Commissioning Editor
Mark Harrison
Commissioning Executive
Natural history commissioners
Jack Bootle
Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual
Tom Watt-Smith
Lead Commissioning Editor, Natural History
Popular music commissioners
Jonathan Rothery
Head of Popular Music, TV
Rachel Davies
Commissioning Editor
Religion and ethics commissioners
Jack Bootle
Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual
Daisy Scalchi
Head of Religion and Ethics
Science commissioners
Jack Bootle
Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual
Tom Coveney
Head of Science
Lucy Willmore
Commissioning Supply Executive
Contact Lucy for specifics on working with BBC Television, particularly if you are a smaller independent production company or based out of London. Please note Lucy does not commission content and cannot discuss content ideas with producers.
Lucy Willmore
Contact Lucy
Further advice and support
Named business leads
Business advice per genre for companies with ideas in playIndies outside London
Advice and commissioning leads for each Nation and regionSmall or new indies
Our tailored support packages and adviceDiverse-led indies
Our investment, commitments and contacts
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