S4C appoints first head of unscripted after commissioning team shake-up

Welsh-language public broadcaster S4C has further bolstered its commissioning team with the appointment of an executive dedicated to unscripted content.

Iwan England

Iwan England, a recent graduate of the Factual Fast Track training scheme funded by the BBC, Channel 4 and S4C, has today been confirmed in the newly created position of head of unscripted.

The senior commissioning role will focus on developing the channel’s coproductions, premium limited series, formats and international slate of content.

The move follows September’s shake-up of the pubcaster’s commissioning team, which included the creation of three new roles.

England joins S4C after 22 years working in TV production, most recently as exec producer of several episodes of BBC One’s Our Lives strand.

He also developed, produced and directed drama documentary Aberfan: The Fight for Justice which was a BBC One, BBC Wales and S4C co-commission. The doc tells the story of the long fight for justice of the people of Aberfan, the village where he was brought up, after a coal waste landslide killed 144 people in 1966.

He has collaborated with stand-up comedian and presenter Elis James on several comedy and factual series produced through Alpha Productions, the company Iwan established and has run since 2014.

The BBC Two and BBC Wales series Funny Nation saw James interview a host of comedy talents including Rob Brydon, Ruth Jones, Rhod Gilbert and Kiri Pritchard-McLean.

England said: “At a time when the broadcaster is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is developing ambitious new plans in unscripted, I look forward to collaborating with the vibrant production community and building new creative partnerships whilst being an unabashed cheerleader for Welsh talent in front of and behind the camera.”

Llinos Griffin-Williams, S4C’s chief content officer, said: “I am delighted to welcome Iwan to my growing commissioning team as a valued creative voice. Well respected, with a passion for great storytelling, his experience and understanding of shaping ambitious and engaging content as well as nurturing talent means he will undoubtedly be a huge asset within the team as we grow our unscripted offerings for our audiences.”