CPL adds RDF exec to senior team

CPL Productions, part of the Red Arrow Entertainment Group, has hired a new development director to oversee its slate of entertainment, factual entertainment and comedy commissions.

Lynn Sutcliffe joins the London-based company in a new role within the senior management team headed by Danielle Lux, MD and former controller of entertainment at both the BBC and Channel 4.

Working alongside creative director Murray Boland, Sutcliffe will look to expand CPL’s original programming and exploit the prodco’s relationship with Red Arrow, whose portfolio includes formats such as hidden camera prank show Benidorm Bastards.

Sutcliffe has spent the last six years as head of development at RDF Television, where her credits included Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Wogan’s Perfect Recall and new ITV quizshow Tipping Point.

Before that, she spent seven years at the BBC where she worked on entertainment programmes including The Weakest Link, Dog Eat Dog and Friends Like These. As head of the BBC’s Format Factory she also developed formats for the international market.

Lux said: “CPL prides itself on being a home for the best creatives with brilliant ideas; Lynn has a very impressive track record in devising captivating television formats in the UK and International markets.”

CPL’s credits include A League of their Own and Wall of Fame, both for UK satcaster Sky1. Sutcliffe joins on September 10.

Red Arrow, which is owned by Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1, took a majority stake in CPL in March this year, adding to its stable of UK prodcos that also includes Nerd and Endor Productions.