Twofour CEO David Brindley appointed director of programmes at Channel 4

UK public service broadcaster Channel 4 has chosen David Brindley as its new director of programmes following the departure of Ian Katz.

David Brindley

Brindley joins Channel 4 from ITV Studios-owned Twofour, where he is CEO and an exec producer and has overseen a slate including The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple TV), Educating Yorkshire (Channel 4), Destination X (BBC/NBC), The Box (ITV) and I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl (BBC).

His appointment marks a return to Channel 4, where he was previously a commissioning editor for documentaries. He will join the channel in January and will also become an executive member of the Channel 4 board.

Prior to joining Twofour, Brindley was also head of popular factual and factual entertainment commissioning at the BBC, overseeing more than 350 hours of programming annually. His commissions included Race Across the World, Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, Interior Design Masters, The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan and The Rap Game UK.

Katz, the channel’s long-serving chief content officer, announced he was standing down in April after nine years.

New CEO Priya Dogra, who herself only replaced Alex Mahon at the end of 2025, used Katz’s departure to restructure the channel’s management, with Louisa Compton and Kiran Nataraja given director positions alongside the creation of a third now filled by Brindley.

Brindley will have full commissioning and editorial responsibility for Channel 4’s programming across scripted and unscripted genres.

Brindley and Compton, director of news, digital and audience trust, will have end-to-end editorial ownership of their respective areas. Nataraja, director of strategy, has responsibility for content strategy, portfolio planning and acquisitions.

Priya Dogra

Dogra said: “As we reshape Channel 4 to invest more in distinctive British content and back creative talent across the UK, I wanted a director of programmes who would be able to take ambitious risks in programming and deliver powerful shows that make a cultural impact, while sustaining the bold attitude that has always been the calling card of Channel 4.

“David has a proven ability to nurture the ideas and talent that create truly standout television. With hundreds of hours of award-winning shows under his belt and deep experience working in public service broadcasting, he is the ideal person to join our existing creative leadership team and help us deliver our vision for the future of Channel 4.”

Brindley added: “At a moment of seismic change within the industry and the channel, it has never been more important to ensure Channel 4 thrives creatively, by deepening its connection with audiences and the production community across the country.”