STV taps 12 Yard exec for entertainment

The production arm of Scottish broadcaster STV has hired an exec from ITV Studios-owned 12 Yard Productions to bolster its formats team.

Josephine Brassey

STV Productions has hired Josephine Brassey as head of development for entertainment, joining the Gary Chippington-led team which is behind shows such as Catchphrase on ITV and Sex Tape on Channel 4.

As head of international development at 12 Yard, Brassey has overseen the global roll-out of shows including Big Star’s Little Star, I’ll Get This and Think Tank. In the UK, she has secured commissions from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, including long-running BBC quiz Perfection.

Brassey’s appointment is part of a three-year growth plan at STV being overseen by MD David Mortimer, who joined the firm from Tinopolis last September. The company says it is investing £15m (US$19m) in content and digital to position itself as a major creative force in Scotland and beyond.

The company also recently announced the appointment of Craig Hunter as creative director of factual and Ramy El-Bergamy as head of development for daytime and popular factual.

In other news, STV’s broadcast arm has renewed factual programmes The People’s History Show and Animal 999 for new seasons. The People’s History Show (12×30’) is produced by Scottish indie Up Next Studios and fronted by historian Fergus Sutherland and presenter Jennifer Reoch. The magazine show has been given a new look and will continue to bring viewers features from across the country to discover the places and people that make up Scotland’s shared social history.

Animal 999 (16×30’) will provide further insights into the work carried out by Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It is made by Demus Productions.