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C4 alum Karl Warner joins BBC Studios as entertainment and digital development EVP

Former Channel 4 executive Karl Warner has been appointed to the role of exec VP of UK entertainment and digital development at BBC Studios’ (BBCS) recently formed global entertainment division.

Karl Warner

Starting his new role in November, he will report to global entertainment MD Matt Forde. Warner is tasked with creating new IP and formats for the BBC, as well as other UK and global platforms.

His remit includes overseeing the creation of new labels, such as Rebel Rebel Pictures, and supporting existing prodcos under the BBCS umbrella.

His unit will partner with other BBCS global entertainment teams around the world to reimagine international ideas for the UK market. These will be produced by the new entertainment production business led by Suzy Lamb, MD for UK entertainment.

Warner joins from Channel 4, where he was head of youth and digital for over three years, having joined the company as E4 controller in late 2018. There he brokered deals for shows such as Taskmaster, and I Literally Just Told You. He was also behind the brand strategy for Married at First Sight UK and helped devise First Dates spin-off Teen First Dates.

He previously held roles at NBC’s Monkey Kingdom and at Endemol, where he was a senior producer on Big Brother. Warner was also part of the BBC in-house team that helped develop Strictly Come Dancing’s first season.

Warner was the BBC’s youngest ever commissioning editor at 26, helping to create brands like Russell Howard’s Good News and Junior Doctors for BBC Three, as well as Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and John Bishop’s Britain for BBC One.

In 2014, he founded his own production company, Electric Ray, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Matt Forde, global entertainment MD, BBC Studios, said: “I’m delighted that someone of Karl’s experience and inventiveness has joined BBC Studios to help us supercharge our ambitions.

“Establishing a flexible hub of creative talent to develop UK hit shows across multiple platforms with an innovative, global, and future-looking approach for audiences has been a priority since setting up Global Entertainment. I can’t wait to see what he and the new team working across the UK and world create.”

Warner said: “After over a decade, I’m thrilled to be back at the BBC with a new global perspective and joining BBC Studios in a creative leadership role at such an exciting time.

“With its huge scale, rich catalogue of IP and second to none talent relationships, I can’t think of a better place to be, creating new ideas that speak to the next generation of audiences, alongside Suzy and the amazing teams in the group.”

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