UKTV chief creative officer Richard Watsham is to stand down in September after 14 years with the broadcaster.
The exec, who is also BBC Studios and UKTV global director of acquisitions, said he is leaving to seek new challenges.
He will however continue to chair pan-industry collaboration group Action For Freelancers and the Creative Diversity Network (CDN), which monitors and promotes representation in TV.
“It is always a difficult decision to leave somewhere you love but there are still so many challenges to take on and opportunities to explore that the time is right,” he said.
Watsham joined UKTV as a commissioning editor in 2011, later stepping up to director of commissioning, where he built up the broadcaster’s commission team and slate of originations across lifestyle, documentary, factual entertainment, comedy entertainment, comedy and drama.
Under his tenure, the broadcaster has had hits include long-running panel show Taskmaster - which he helped to develop, and which moved to Channel 4 in 2019 - as well as comedy entertainment shows Big Zuu’s Big Eats and Unforgiveable with Mel Giedroyc, factual series including Emma Willis: Delivering Babies and Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over; and dramas Annika, The Marlow Murder Club and Traces.
UKTV chief executive Marcus Arthur hailed Watsham’s “immense” contribution to the broadcaster.
“His creative vision and leadership have transformed the reputation and scope of UKTV’s content, delivering hits that have delighted and grown our audiences,” Arthur said.
“Alongside this, he has ensured that UKTV has been an advocate for positive change in the industry, driving initiatives in diversity, inclusion and sustainability.”
Watsham said he would miss the broadcaster’s positive working culture.
“Our resources are leaner compared to some of our competitors, but we have punched above our weight over and over again due to the passion and brilliant expertise of my colleagues at UKTV.
“They are second to none in the British TV industry; underestimate them at your peril!”
