Hadlow to leave BBC2

Janice Hadlow is stepping down as controller of BBC2 and BBC4 to take up a new post at the UK public broadcaster.

Hadlow, who has run BBC2 since November 2008 and both channels jointly since 2013, will remain in her role until early March, before becoming controller of special projects and seasons.

In the newly created position, she will develop and originate cross-platform series, seasons and other major TV events and will also advise BBC director of television Danny Cohen and channel controllers on broadcast strategy.

Hadlow will also develop returning formats for early evening television, with content from a variety of genres, with particular focus on factual and drama for BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4.

The BBC also confirmed that Hadlow’s future projects include a range of programmes on popular music, a season focusing on women’s history and a collaboration between the drama and factual departments to create a literary season in 2016. The corporation added that she will also drive a creative unit to enable the development of these ideas.

Cohen said Hadlow had been an “extraordinarily successful” controller of BBC2. “In a time of digital change she has both creatively enriched BBC2 and ensured it remains a competitive force to be reckoned with.”

Under Hadlow’s tenure, BBC2 saw a resurgence in specialist factual, comedy and drama and enjoyed a number of recent stand-out hits, from The Great British Bake Off to well-received history seasons such as The Tudor Season and The Seventies.

Hadlow also put live programming on BBC2’s agenda. However, she recently warned her channel should not ‘overdo’ that kind of programming at Sheffield Doc/Fest last year.

“It has been an amazing privilege for me to run a channel that I have loved ever since I was old enough to appreciate great programmes,” she said today.

“There’s nothing quite like BBC2 anywhere else in television, and as it approaches its 50th birthday I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in its distinguished, stimulating and always surprising history.”

Prior to BBC2, Hadlow was controller of BBC4 from July 2004. Before that, she was head of specialist factual at Channel 4. A recruitment process for her replacement has begun.