Channel 4 names new head of drama

The UK’s Channel 4 has hired an executive from Red Production Company to be its new head of drama, replacing the outgoing Beth Willis.

Caroline Hollick

Caroline Hollick, currently creative director at The Five producer Red, will replace Willis, whose departure was announced in June.

Hollick has been in her current role with Red since 2013, running the development team and overseeing its international and domestic slate of dramas including the BBC’s Happy Valley by Sally Wainwright and C4’s Cucumber by Russell T Davies.

She was executive producer on actor Lenny Henry’s first original drama commission, Danny & the Human Zoo, and Butterfly, a 3×60’ series for ITV1 written by Tony Marchant and starring Anna Friel.

Prior to that she was head of development with the firm from 2006 to 2013, having joined as a script editor in 2002. She began her career as a production trainee at Yorkshire Television working on Heartbeat, Emmerdale and At Home With the Braithwaites.

At Channel 4, Hollick will split her team between the London base of the channel’s drama team and its new hubs in the nations and regions, the locations of which are currently being chosen.

The appointment was announced by C4’s director of programmes Ian Katz, who said: “Caroline has a hugely exciting vision for Channel 4 drama and a formidable record working with – and often discovering – some of the best TV writers in the country. I’m confident she will make Channel 4 the most writer-friendly broadcaster and build on Channel 4’s reputation as the place to find truly original drama with something to say.”

Hollick added: “I’ve had an amazing time at Red, the home of so many ground-breaking dramas, working with the most incredible colleagues. But I’m thrilled to have been offered this opportunity to join a channel synonymous with diversity, risk-taking and innovation. Scripted drama has been my passion for the last 20 years, and I can’t wait to take this chance to seek out new voices and distinctive stories from the length and breadth of the country.”

Willis is leaving C4 after six years with the commercially funded pubcaster to join production company The Forge.