BBCS hires ITV commissioner for reality push

BBC Studios Productions has hired ITV commissioning editor Peter Tierney to lead its new reality-focused development label, Broadcast International has learned.

The latest addition to Karl Warner’s new-look senior team, will bolster the nascent reality label as it focuses on creating scalable reality formats as well as mainstream entertainment shows, which will then be produced and distributed by BBC Studios in the UK and globally.

Tierney’s unit sits within the newly formed development division headed up by former Channel 4 exec Warner, who was appointed exec vice-president of BBC Studios Entertainment and Digital Development last year.

He has since restructured the division to create a three-pronged development unit made up of Tierney’s reality label, a fact-ent unit and pre-existing mixed entertainment arm Rebel Rebel Pictures.

The move is part of a broad push to reinvigorate the company’s unscripted output, working closely with Suzy Lamb, managing director of BBC Studios Entertainment Productions. The duo outlined their strategy to Broadcast International earlier this week, with reality set to receive a six-figure development spend as focus on the genre surges.

Tierney joins from ITV where he is currently commissioning editor of reality. During a seven-year stint in commissioning, he has greenlit titles across all of ITV’s channels including Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother.

He was also behind The Fortune Hotel, Peckham’s Finest, Secret Crush, and Killer Camp, while entertainment greenlights were handed out for The Emily Atack Show and Don’t Hate The Playaz.

Prior to ITV, Tierney worked on entertainment and reality shows including I’m A Celebrity…, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Dancing On Ice and Love Island. He has also worked as a development producer throughout his career.

Tierney said: “There’s an incredible appetite at BBC Studios to make a big play into the reality sphere and so the chance to marry that appetite with my experience was just too inviting to miss. I can’t wait to get the new label up and running - I’m really excited for what’s to come!”

Warner added: “Pete’s credentials in the reality genre speak for themselves so it’s a real coup he’s chosen to set up a new label with us.

“We have big, ambitious plans when it comes to reality, matched brilliantly with Pete’s creativity and passion for creating jaw dropping television. We can’t wait to see what his new label come up with.”

Warner’s other recent hires have included Mel Bezalel, the former Optomen exec, who was appointed last month to provide creative and strategic support, as revealed by Broadcast International.

A broader overhaul of BBCS Productions has also taken place under chief Zai Bennett, to whom Warner and Lamb now report. Those changes saw former factual chief Kate Ward leading a newly minted Unscripted Productions business, which merged the factual, UK entertainment and entertainment development divisions into a single entity.