BBC hires commissioner for int’l Earth channel

BBC Worldwide has recruited Kirsty Hanson as commissioning executive for its international factual channel BBC Earth.

Hanson joins from Warner Bros Television Production UK.-owned UK prodco Twenty Twenty where her exec producer credits include The Restaurant Man for BBC Two.

At Worldwide, she will report to commissioning vice president Julie Swanston.

Hanson will develop and commission original factual content and facillitate UK and US coproductions for BBC Earth, which sits alongside BBC Brit and BBC First in the commercial arm of the UK pubcaster’s channel line-up.

She will have a particular focus on the Earth Unplugged slot with a remit to greenlight ‘adrenalin-fuelled, fast paced and visceral adventure series’ that have British talent at their centre’.

Swanston said: “Kirsty is a welcome addition to our team with twenty years of programme making experience, which has seen her develop a number of successful prime-time factual formats.

“Her new role will see her play an integral part in growing our original commissioning slate for the BBC Earth brand.”