Regional director role to close, with Aisling O’Connor moved under Charlotte Moore
Helen Thomas has stepped down as director of BBC England as the corporation prepares to scrap the regional role.
Thomas, who took up the newly-created role in June 2018, left in May and has been temporarily replaced by head of BBC South Jason Horton ahead of the termination of the position. She remains at the BBC, working across key projects including a major review of output as part of its impartiality commitments.
Thomas’ BBC England director role will be replaced by a newly-created position – director of production for BBC Local. A hunt will commence in the autumn to appoint the individual, who will take on responsibility for production across England’s network of BBC Local services.
In addition, the BBC will appoint six heads of local production with responsibility for local TV and radio across six regions.
The reshuffle forms part of Tim Davie’s ‘digital-first plans’ in which he revealed that local services would be “reshaped”.
Director of Nations Rhodri Talfan Davies, said: “Our local news and audio services are trusted and followed by millions in every part of England. We have committed to update our services to ensure high-quality, distinctive BBC local storytelling is available every day when and where audiences want it. To put our audiences at the forefront in this way, we need to restructure the teams providing the service.”
BBC England commissioning
As part of the reshuffle, BBC England head of TV commissioning Aisling O’Connor is to move into the BBC’s content division and begin reporting to chief content officer Charlotte Moore.
Former Panorama exec O’Connor has operated independently from other BBC commissioners since she took the inaugural role in 2019, reporting to Thomas.
O’Connor was responsible for Inside Out successor We Are England that is to be scrapped after its second series. It was beset by problems, with two eps pulled under controversial circumstances.
More recent commissions include BBC1 daytime format Emergency Vets (w/t) from Twenty Six 03, and BBC2’s Commando: Britain’s Ocean Warriors from Seadog Productions.
The changes were first reported by Private Eye.
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