Prior takes over Pickard's reins at CBBC

In the UK, Dorothy Prior has taken a step up to claim the position of controller of CBBC, leaving her former seat as head of programming open to applications.

She takes up the new post on February 17, after current controller Nigel Pickard moves to ITV to become director of programmes, a seat vacated by David Liddiment.

Prior will take charge of the BBC's in-house children's production, independent commissioning, acquisitions, scheduling and specialist services including the BBC's two digital children's channels and CBBC online.

A BBC spokesperson said that her former role would be advertised and that it was expected that an outsider would be appointed.

Alan Yentob, director of BBC drama, entertainment and CBBC, said: {In partnership with Nigel Pickard, she has been responsible for the huge expansion of the department and the successful launch of our two new digital channels, the rebranding of our output and the growth of our children's websites.{

Prior took over from Lorraine Heggessey as head of children's production in 1999 and has been working as head of programming to Pickard since October 2000.

In another appointment, the BBC has promoted Neil Nightingale to the post of head of the BBC Natural History Unit, having worked in the unit for the past 20 years.

As head of the Natural History unit in Bristol, Neil will be responsible for all the unit's television output on BBC1 and BB2 and the digital channels BBC3 and BBC4. He was formerly an editor in the unit, commissioning Congo, Lion Spy in the Den and Tiger.