Wilson out as part of Five clearout

A number of senior executives at British commercial broadcaster Five including kids boss Nick Wilson are to leave following Richard Desmond’s purchase of the channel.

This is the second stage of the clearout following the departure of chief executive Dawn Airey and channel controller Richard Woolfe last month.

Director of children’s programming Wilson, who runs the channel’s successful kids block Milkshake!, has taken voluntary redundancy along with commissioning editor of entertainment and features Donna Taberer, controller of sport Robert Charles, head of production Nan Whittingham and head of news Chris Shaw.

The shake up also sees Jeff Ford, the former director of digital channels and acquisitions who will become program director, report to Paul Ashford, editorial director at Desmond’s Northern & Shell.