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BBC TV chief Danny Cohen to leave corporation BBC TV chief Danny Cohen to leave corporation
(6 days later)
BBC director of television Danny Cohen is to leave after eight years at the corporation.BBC director of television Danny Cohen is to leave after eight years at the corporation.
There was speculation in the summer that the man Jeremy Clarkson phoned after his “fracas” with a Top Gear producer was planning to leave after receiving an approach from a company in the US.There was speculation in the summer that the man Jeremy Clarkson phoned after his “fracas” with a Top Gear producer was planning to leave after receiving an approach from a company in the US.
Cohen, whose credits during his BBC career include Call the Midwife, Poldark and Happy Valley, turned that offer down but has now resigned.Cohen, whose credits during his BBC career include Call the Midwife, Poldark and Happy Valley, turned that offer down but has now resigned.
It is understood that he decided it was time to move on after the BBC’s licence fee settlement negotiations and that he has not yet decided what to do next but is considering offers from both UK and US companies.It is understood that he decided it was time to move on after the BBC’s licence fee settlement negotiations and that he has not yet decided what to do next but is considering offers from both UK and US companies.
One source said he wanted to go out at a time that was right for the BBC and to allow a new director of television to be appointed before Hall decides where to implement the cuts he is due to announce before the end of the year.One source said he wanted to go out at a time that was right for the BBC and to allow a new director of television to be appointed before Hall decides where to implement the cuts he is due to announce before the end of the year.
It is understood Cohen will leave in November.It is understood Cohen will leave in November.
His deputy, controller of entertainment commissioning Mark Linsey, will take over pending the appointment of his successor and is likely to be tipped as one of the favourites to get the job.His deputy, controller of entertainment commissioning Mark Linsey, will take over pending the appointment of his successor and is likely to be tipped as one of the favourites to get the job.
Related: BBC’s Danny Cohen is great – at bureaucracy | Letters
Cohen said: “After eight wonderful years at the BBC it is time for my next big challenge. BBC Television is on brilliant creative form. I feel very privileged to have led Television for the world’s finest public service broadcaster and to have worked with so many smart and talented people. In particular, I’d like to thank my fantastic team across BBC Television, all the people who have been involved with making our programmes in the last few years, my colleagues on the executive board and Tony Hall, who I admire greatly.Cohen said: “After eight wonderful years at the BBC it is time for my next big challenge. BBC Television is on brilliant creative form. I feel very privileged to have led Television for the world’s finest public service broadcaster and to have worked with so many smart and talented people. In particular, I’d like to thank my fantastic team across BBC Television, all the people who have been involved with making our programmes in the last few years, my colleagues on the executive board and Tony Hall, who I admire greatly.
“In the last few weeks I’ve been approached about a number of exciting opportunities and I want to consider these in an open and transparent way.”“In the last few weeks I’ve been approached about a number of exciting opportunities and I want to consider these in an open and transparent way.”
BBC director general Tony Hall said Cohen had “one hell of a CV”.BBC director general Tony Hall said Cohen had “one hell of a CV”.
“Danny has done an extraordinary job over the last eight years at the BBC. In a world of intense competition and choice, he has further enhanced the BBC’s reputation for quality programming that is full of ambition and creativity.“Danny has done an extraordinary job over the last eight years at the BBC. In a world of intense competition and choice, he has further enhanced the BBC’s reputation for quality programming that is full of ambition and creativity.
“He is one of TV’s great talents. I know everyone who has worked with Danny has huge admiration for what he has delivered for the BBC. I want to wish him well for the future.”“He is one of TV’s great talents. I know everyone who has worked with Danny has huge admiration for what he has delivered for the BBC. I want to wish him well for the future.”
James Corden, who worked on BBC3 hit Gavin & Stacey, said of Cohen: “Danny has been instrumental in my development as both a person and a performer. He has a fantastic creative mind and much as I’m sad he’s leaving the BBC, I’m excited to see what he does next.”James Corden, who worked on BBC3 hit Gavin & Stacey, said of Cohen: “Danny has been instrumental in my development as both a person and a performer. He has a fantastic creative mind and much as I’m sad he’s leaving the BBC, I’m excited to see what he does next.”
Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman added: “I have worked with Danny for eight years and have loved every minute. He’s smart, dedicated and extremely kind to everyone on the team. He has been a brilliant creative leader of BBC Television. We’ll miss him enormously. I wish him all the luck in the world.”Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman added: “I have worked with Danny for eight years and have loved every minute. He’s smart, dedicated and extremely kind to everyone on the team. He has been a brilliant creative leader of BBC Television. We’ll miss him enormously. I wish him all the luck in the world.”
The president of MasterChef producer Endemol Shine Group, Tim Hincks, said: ‘The BBC is loved first and foremost because of the range and quality of its programmes and Danny’s key success has been ensuring that creativity has flourished and thrived in recent years. The BBC is at the top of its game creatively and Danny has ensured that the BBC has become a real home for great ideas, great shows and great talent: a place where the best people can do their best work. There has been no more passionate advocate of what the BBC stands for and he will be missed.”The president of MasterChef producer Endemol Shine Group, Tim Hincks, said: ‘The BBC is loved first and foremost because of the range and quality of its programmes and Danny’s key success has been ensuring that creativity has flourished and thrived in recent years. The BBC is at the top of its game creatively and Danny has ensured that the BBC has become a real home for great ideas, great shows and great talent: a place where the best people can do their best work. There has been no more passionate advocate of what the BBC stands for and he will be missed.”
As director of BBC Television, Cohen has been responsible for all of the BBC’s networks, including BBC1, BBC2, BBC3 and BBC4, plus overseeing the creative side of BBC iPlayer and commissioning and production across all the corporation’s drama, entertainment, comedy and factual shows, plus BBC Films.As director of BBC Television, Cohen has been responsible for all of the BBC’s networks, including BBC1, BBC2, BBC3 and BBC4, plus overseeing the creative side of BBC iPlayer and commissioning and production across all the corporation’s drama, entertainment, comedy and factual shows, plus BBC Films.
It is arguably a good time for Cohen to leave while BBC television is on a high, having won audiences of about 14 million for The Great British Bake Off and nearly 8 million for drama Doctor Foster.It is arguably a good time for Cohen to leave while BBC television is on a high, having won audiences of about 14 million for The Great British Bake Off and nearly 8 million for drama Doctor Foster.
When he became director of television in 2013, Cohen was tipped as a future director general.When he became director of television in 2013, Cohen was tipped as a future director general.
He has been a part of some of the biggest shows on television. For three years he was controller of BBC1 where his credits included Sunday night drama hit Call the Midwife, JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy and Saturday night talent show The Voice.He has been a part of some of the biggest shows on television. For three years he was controller of BBC1 where his credits included Sunday night drama hit Call the Midwife, JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy and Saturday night talent show The Voice.
From 2007 to 2010 he was BBC3 controller and commissioned cult drama Being Human and the lauded documentary series Our War.From 2007 to 2010 he was BBC3 controller and commissioned cult drama Being Human and the lauded documentary series Our War.
Prior to that he was head of E4 and Channel 4, during which time he ordered successes such as Skins, The Inbetweeners and Supernanny.Prior to that he was head of E4 and Channel 4, during which time he ordered successes such as Skins, The Inbetweeners and Supernanny.
He has also pushed for greater diversity on the BBC, backing shows such as the hit comedy Citizen Khan.He has also pushed for greater diversity on the BBC, backing shows such as the hit comedy Citizen Khan.
But it has not all been a bed of roses for Cohen. Recently he was had to deal with the furore surrounding the departure of Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear and the so-called “luvvies’ letter” of support for the BBC from stars including Daniel Craig and Chris Evans.But it has not all been a bed of roses for Cohen. Recently he was had to deal with the furore surrounding the departure of Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear and the so-called “luvvies’ letter” of support for the BBC from stars including Daniel Craig and Chris Evans.
Cohen has never been afraid to stand up for the corporation and its values. In 2013 he hit back at attacks on the broadcaster by some of its biggest stars, such as Jennifer Saunders, saying they were “driving staff mad” and asked them not to join the “daily chorus of BBC bashing.”Cohen has never been afraid to stand up for the corporation and its values. In 2013 he hit back at attacks on the broadcaster by some of its biggest stars, such as Jennifer Saunders, saying they were “driving staff mad” and asked them not to join the “daily chorus of BBC bashing.”