Fincham, Hincks prodco hires for factual

Expectation, the UK prodco set up by Peter Fincham and Tim Hincks, has hired execs from Channel 4 and Minnow Films to lead its factual output.

Colin Barr

Colin Barr and Amy Flanagan are joining the fledgling company as creative directors to focus on factual and factual drama.

Flanagan has been named creative director of factual and joins from Channel 4, where she was deputy head of factual. She follows Nerys Evans to Expectation, who left her role as deputy head of comedy at C4 to join as creative director for comedy.

Flanagan, who joined the channel in 2014 having previously been at The Garden, was responsible for commissions including The Murder Detectives, My Son the Jihadi, The Romanians are Coming and Hunted.

Barr, meanwhile, has been appointed creative director of factual and factual drama. He was previously creative director at Minnow, where he led a drive into constructed formats with C4’s series SAS: Who Dares Wins.

Amy Flanagan

He also previously had a stint as director and executive producer at the BBC.

Former ITV controller Fincham and Endemol Shine Group chief Tim Hincks announced the formation of Expectation in November and recently announced a slew of hires plus backing from BBC Worldwide.

Hincks, co-CEO alongside Fincham, said: “Peter and I believe there are huge opportunities in factual storytelling – but you have to have the very best talent. We believe Amy and Colin are the best of the best.

“The idea that they can join us and not just make the best factual shows as individuals, but also collaborate on projects together, is a dream come true.”

Fincham added: “These appointments speak for themselves. Colin’s track record in factual and in factual drama is outstanding. Amy is simply one of the most respected people working in factual today.”