Patrick Holland appointed Channel Editor of BBC Two
Following a recent strategic reorganisation, which saw the appointment of Charlotte Moore as Controller of TV Channels and iPlayer, the new BBC Two Editor role was created.
Published: 1 July 2016
Patrick is the right creative leader to bring confidence back to BBC Two and give the channel a greater sense of identity in a crowded TV landscape.
Patrick Holland was announced in the post today. He is currently Head of Documentaries Commissioning at the BBC.
As BBC Two Editor, Patrick will provide creative leadership and manage and run the channel, commissioning and scheduling programmes to enhance its distinctive identity in the portfolio of channels.
BBC Two has a unique role in broadcasting, it stretches the mind and takes you to places you haven’t been before. With a new focus on authorship and an unprecedented commitment to factual specialism, it's a channel that challenges the status quo, inspires original thinking and gives a voice to new perspectives and diverse opinions.
Charlotte Moore says: "Patrick is the right creative leader to bring confidence back to BBC Two and give the channel a greater sense of identity in a crowded TV landscape. He is passionate about authorship and a real champion of the director’s voice and I know he will be committed to making BBC Two a place for creatives to do their most distinctive, signature work.
"Patrick is a born collaborator who backs risk-taking, and whose extensive experience and sound editorial judgement will create a BBC Two fit for the future, to drive even higher quality and success. I would like to say a big thank you to Adam Barker who has been utterly dedicated to BBC Two over the last six months. I could not have done without his support and commitment."
Patrick Holland says: “It's a huge privilege to become Channel Editor of BBC Two. BBC Two is a unique channel, combining wit and warmth with an unrivalled sense of enquiry and intelligence. More than ever BBC Two needs to be a place that champions creativity and enables authorship. I am really looking forward to working with Charlotte and the team to build on the channel's great slate of programmes and shape the next stage of its evolution.”
Patrick has been Head of Documentaries since 2015, leading one of the biggest commissioning teams at the BBC, overseeing a huge range of output across all channels. From the forthcoming Exodus: Our Journey To Europe (BBC Two) and Abused: The Untold Story (BBC One), to the award-winning global documentary strand Storyville (BBC Four), through to BBC Three stand-out films Chasing Dad and Murdered By My Father.
Other recent highlights include: The Real Marigold Hotel (BBC Two), Camila's Kids' Company: The Inside Story (BBC One), Syrian Love Story (BBC Four), The Not So Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive (BBC One), The Great Pottery Throwdown (BBC Two), Behind Closed Doors (BBC One), and Professor Green's Suicide And Me film (BBC Three).
Before joining the BBC in September 2015, Patrick was the managing director of one of the UK's biggest factual independent production companies, Boundless (part of Fremantle Media UK). Whilst there he created a raft of new documentary series including An Hour To Save Your Life (BBC Two), World's Toughest Jobs (BBC Three), Britain At The Bookies (BBC One) and Dara And Ed's Great Big Adventure (BBC Two).
Patrick also oversaw the revitalisation ofThe Apprentice and Grand Designs (both BAFTA-nominated in 2015) and executive produced the feature documentary The Class Of '92 (Universal). Before joining Boundless Patrick was the Director of Factual at Ricochet, where he ran Born To Be Different (Channel 4), executive produced Space Shuttle: The Final Mission(BBC Two) Daisy Asquith's My New Home, and established the new talent documentary strand My Crazy Life (both Channel 4).
Patrick will start his new role in mid-August.
Clare Sillery, who is currently a Commissioning Editor in Docs, will be Acting Head of BBC Documentaries until the end of the year. Recruitment for the permanent role will start in due course. Clare has a broad range of experience across popular series, powerful singles and observational documentaries.
Some of her recent credits include: The Detectives; How To Die: Simon's Choice; Abused: The Untold Story; and The Real Marigold Hotel.
MO
