Granada Kids boss replaces Grace

The ITV Network Centre didn't have to look too far for the replacement for exiting controller of kids Janie Grace, drawing on the director of children's programmes at Granada Kids.

Steven Andrew will become ITV's controller of children's and youth programming, after five years at Granada. His credits include My Parents Are Aliens, Jungle Run and the upcoming Girls in Love. Prior to Granada he was at the BBC, where he worked on Blue Peter and Grange Hill.

Regarding his appointment, Andrew said: {It's crucial that CiTV continues to offer a strong and vibrant alternative to the BBC and the many digital channels now in existence, both for the health of children's entertainment in the UK and as a nursery slope for ITV.{

He admitted that CiTV is {the number two children's channel in the UK,{ but vowed to {get it back on top.{

The CiTV position suddenly became vacant last month, as Janie Grace surprisingly quit a week before the arrival of ITV's new director of programmes Nigel Pickard. Pickard had been CiTV boss immediately before Grace.