Beeb announces Kim Shillinglaw as new controller of BBC 2

The BBC has confirmed that Kim Shillinglaw, its head of science and natural history commissioning, is to be the new controller of BBC2.

Ms Shillinglaw, who has championed programmes including the BAFTA-winning Frozen Planet and the children’s hit Horrible Histories, replaces Janice Hadlow, who has run BBC2 for six years.

Announcing the appointment, BBC director of television, Danny Cohen, said: “Kim has proved herself to be an exceptional creative at the BBC. She has an eye for scale and the bigger picture and seeks out distinctive, high-quality ideas. BBC Two is in fantastic shape and I’m looking forward to seeing the channel blossom further under Kim’s leadership.”

A key part of Ms Shillinglaw’s role will be to ensure that BBC2 and its sister channel BBC4 are closely-aligned.

She said: “BBC Two has always been one of the most creative channels in the world, with a huge range of quality programming. I'm delighted and honoured by the prospect of working with the best of our British talent and programme makers; I look forward to taking it and BBC Four to the next phase of great, thought-provoking and lively TV for British audiences.”

Ms Shillinglaw, who lists “collecting animal bones” among her hobbies is regarded as an outspoken figure within the television industry and was responsible for a rise in Science programming on BBC1. She began her career at the independent production company Observer Films before moving to the BBC’s factual department and later becoming an executive producer of the long-running science magazine series Bang Goes the Theory.