Hot Shots 2026: Holly Jennings

Few people in their 20s have a direct line to the BBC director general – but that’s just one of the ways that Holly Jennings stands out so early into her TV career.

On top of her nomination as 2025 RTS Scotland Young Journalist of the Year, she was picked for the BBC’s Next Generation Committee, which advises on reaching younger audiences. In this role, Holly pitches ideas to Matt Brittin and his top team about the BBC’s future, influencing decision-making at the highest levels.

Joining the BBC in 2023 after a stint at STV, Holly stood out among the News on iPlayer team at Pacific Quay due to her ability to combine strong editorial judgement with creativity and a clear instinct for what appeals to audiences not traditionally served by mainstream news.

Rising from journalist to senior journalist on the back of a range of long-form on-demand programming from true crime to fast-turnaround current affairs, Holly scored her first series producer credit on crime evidence series Cracking the Case, one of the News on iPlayer team’s most successful shows.

BBC News executive editor, streaming, Chris Achilleos, admires Holly’s ability to turn ideas into distinctive formats.

“In a fast-moving environment where time and resources are tight, Holly is utterly dependable: calm under pressure, a pleasure to work with and consistently exceeding expectations,” he says.

“Despite being early in her career, Holly has shown has she can operate at a much higher level. She represents the future of BBC News – innovative, audience-first and unafraid to challenge convention. She is exactly the kind of talent our industry should be recognising and championing.”