New Objective prodco builds team

Panda Television, the new UK prodco that is part of All3Media’s Objective Media Group, has named two of its key team.

Big Star’s Little Star creator Stefan Iriarte has been named head of development and The Voice producer Ed Booth (pictured) as editor of entertainment.

They report to Moira Ross, The Voice producer who left Warner Bros.-owned Wall to Wall to set up Panda as chief creative officer earlier this year. she set up Panda to “reinvigorate” entertainment.

She said today: “Ed has earned his BBC One primetime stripes, whilst Stef is a proper ideas man.

“It’s a big challenge to find an entertainment format that can capture the heart and imagination of the nation the way the likes of The Voice and Strictly Come Dancing have in the past, but I believe we could do just that.”

Iriarte’s credits include ITV’s Big Star’s Little Star and Freeze Out as well as the BBC’s Pressure Pad.

He said: “Moira and Ed are two of the most talented producers in television, I’m unbelievably excited to work with them to create the next generation of entertainment shows.”

Booth, who has worked with Ross on series including The Voice, also counts Strictly Come Dancing and So You Think You Can Dance among his credits.

“Having worked with Moira for over ten years it’s fantastic to be a part of this exciting new chapter,” he said. “I look forward to joining her and Stefan as Panda TV shapes the future of entertainment programming.”

Panda parent Objective retooled last year under new CEO Layla Smith following the exit of many of its top team, including former chief Andrew Newman, who set up a new production company with Sacha Baron Cohen with backing from UK terrestrial Channel 4.