Jane Johnson out at Sky Living

Jane Johnson, the ex-tabloid newspaper editor brought in to run Sky Living last year, is leaving her position as director of the female-skewing pay TV channel. Antonia Hurford-Jones has been upped from commissioning editor at the channel to acting director.

Stuart Murphy, director of UK pay TV operator BSkyB’s entertainment channels, told staff about the changes in a memo last Friday.

Johnson will leave at end-August and will set up a media consultancy that will work across TV, print and digital media.

Murphy’s role at Sky was expanded earlier this year to cover a wider range of channels, including Sky Living with Jones and other channel bosses reporting directly to him.

Speaking about the changes at the Sky Living Murphy told staff: “In only nine months at Sky, Antonia has become a vital part of our success, exec producing Got To Dance, A League of Their Own, and Love Machine, and working closely with the entertainment and channel teams on our entertainment slate. She’s commissioned Sing Date, Adam Buxton’s BUG and Don’t Sit in the Front Row with Jack Dee, among many other shows – all programmes which feel exactly where we need to be going – high quality, big talent, smart and effortlessly contemporary.”

He added: “This is a bit of a break for her but we are all about backing people we believe in, and I have absolutely no doubt she will fantastic in the role.”

Phil Edgar-Jones, head of entertainment, Sky, will look for an acting commissioning editor, entertainment to cover Hurford-Jones’ position for the period she is running Sky Living.