Jay Hunt in as Controller, BBC One

Jay Hunt has been appointed the new controller of BBC One. Hunt will leave rival broadcaster Five after just a few months as director of programmes.

Having previously ruled herself out of the running for the BBC position, she said: “Controller of BBC One has always been my dream job. Ultimately, I could not resist the opportunity to take on such a creatively exciting role.”

Hunt left the BBC for Five earlier this year having been controller of daytime and early peak at the UK public broadcaster. She will stay at Five for a few months before starting at the BBC in the position vacated by Peter Fincham in the wake of the ‘Queen-gate’ scandal.

In a statement Five’s managing director, content, Lisa Opie said: “Jay has already achieved a great deal during her brief time at Five and the first half of 2008 is already scheduled and commissioned.”