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BBC Studios rejigs in the north

BBC Studios, the production arm of the UK pubcaster, has appointed its head of development to oversee entertainment output from its divisions in the north of the country.

Damon Pattison

Damon Pattison has been named head of Entertainment North at BBC Studios, based in Salford and Glasgow, where he will lead the strategy for entertainment outside London.

His remit also covers implementing new editorial and business strategies for the department with a view to growing the slate in the nations and regions.

Pattison will report to BBC Studios’ recently appointed genre director for entertainment and music Suzy Lamb, when she joins in the new year.

Meanwhile, former BBC1 channel exec Pam Cavannagh has been named creative director for BBC Studios and will work alongside Pattison.

She will be responsible for helping to grow the entertainment slates in Salford and Glasgow and support existing productions, having previously been commissioning editor for BBC Daytime.

The rejig comes with the exit of Kieron Collins, managing editor at BBC Entertainment North, who is leaving to pursue new opportunities. His credits include Dragons’ Den, Mastermind and new formats such as BBC daytime quiz The Boss.

Mark Linsey, director at BBC Studios, said Pattison would help the organisation expand and added: “He has a wealth of experience and is awash with fresh ideas. He is so passionate and creative and I know he will have a brilliant impact on BBC Studios’ entertainment teams in Glasgow and Salford.”

Linsey added that Cavannagh had “great knowledge and insight from her days in commissioning and a genuine flair for development that makes her a brilliant and exciting creative leader.”

Pattison added: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be part of BBC Studios and I am looking forward to growing the out of London entertainment slate, and working with the teams to add to the raft of much loved shows and creating future hits.”

Pattison joined BBC Studios as head of development in March 2016 to run a development team focused on formatted and factual entertainment.

Prior to that, he was creative director at the BBC’s Development Central division, following spells with Keo Films and Lucky Day Productions, which he set up.

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