Wenger named BBC drama chief

Piers Wenger

The BBC has appointed Channel 4 head of drama Piers Wenger as controller of drama commissioning.

Wenger will replace Polly Hill at the UK pubcaster after she revealed she was leaving the corporation to join ITV after less than a year in the role.

Wenger will be responsible for commissioning across the whole of the BBC portfolio, overseeing more than 450 hours of drama a year on the BBC.

Charlotte Moore, BBC controller of TV channels and iPlayer, said Wenger “is a brilliant creative leader with great taste and a passion for writing” who would “enhance our world class reputation.”

“He has a breadth of experience and knowledge of the global industry, as well as a real understanding of audiences,” Moore added.

Wenger has overseen drama at C4 since 2012 and has been responsible for Indian Summers, Paul Abbott’s No Offence and Humans, as well as This is England 90 and Southcliffe.

“I have had an unforgettable and brilliant time at C4 and it is with real sadness that I am saying goodbye,” he said. “But the scope and scale of BBC Drama make this an irresistible challenge and I could not be more excited about joining the talented team there and for the new relationships and creative adventures which lie ahead of me at the BBC.”

Prior to joining C4, Wenger was head of drama at BBC Wales and worked as an executive producer on sci-fi drama Doctor Who and war epic Parade’s End.

Wenger’s appointment comes at a critical time for the BBC, which saw its previous scripted chief Hill move to commercial rival ITV in April.

Hill replaced Steve November as ITV’s scripted chief as part of wide-ranging management changes at the commercial operator.

She took over at the BBC in May last year after beating off competition from former BBC Wales chief Faith Penhale, who subsequently left the pubcaster to join War & Peace prodco Lookout Point in November.