BBC adds pair for kids’ content

The BBC’s children division has promoted an executive to oversee scripted development and has added a former Tiger Aspect director to work across its animation output.

Tim Searle

Anna Davies has been upped to head of drama development at CBBC Productions, having been senior development producer since 2012, while Tim Searle has been appointed to oversee CBBC Production’s animated comedy slate.

Davies has worked as creative lead across shows including the adaptation of Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch book series, which is being coproduced with ZDFe, and World War One drama Harriet’s Army.

Prior to joining the BBC, Davies was scripted development exec at Liverpool-based Lime Pictures and has also worked at ITV Productions in Manchester and Yorkshire.

Helen Bullough, head of CBBC Production, said: “Anna nurtures great relationships with writers, has a huge bucketful of experience and is thoughtful, clever and funny, so we’re delighted with this appointment.”

Searle, meanwhile, was creative director of animation and children’s at Tiger Aspect and, before that, head of animation at Baby Cow Animation.

CBBC Productions’ scripted slate includes live-action dramas The Dumping Ground and 4 0 Clock Club, as well as supernatural action-adventure Wolfblood and animation Danger Mouse.