Alison Kirkham


BBC unveils three-prong strategy to improve disability representation

The BBC has unveiled a three-prong strategy to improve disability representation on and off screen in 2020. The initiatives are to create more opportunities, ensure more disabled people are working on the public broadcaster’s top programmes and improve how those with disabilities navigate the corporation. The BBC previously committed to increasing the number of disabled […]

BBC3 ploughs extra investment into factual entertainment

BBC3 has announced the first two commissions to benefit from a recent boost in funding for the channel’s original output. They are BBC Studios’ Couples On The Couch and  Wall to Wall’s Glow Up. BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh (pictured), said: “When we announced that we were extending the focus of our commissioning on BBC Three, […]

BBC’s Kirkham unveils factual highlights at Doc/Fest

Alison Kirkham, controller BBC Factual Commissioning used this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest to unveil a range of new factual titles that will be airing across the BBC’s channels in the coming months. On BBC One, Hidden Homeless a film for Children in Need, will see Stacey Dooley explore the story of Britain’s hidden homeless teenagers on […]

BBC orders host of drama & factual titles

EDINBURGH: The BBC’s drama and factual controllers, Piers Wenger and Alison Kirkham, announced a host of new programming coming to the pubcaster at the Edinburgh International Television Festival. New dramas include Scottish series The Cry and The Victim, as well as Jeff Pope’s new series about convicted serial killer Stephen Port, are coming to the […]

Kirkham: no topic ‘taboo’ for BBC Factual

BBC factual controller Alison Kirkham has pledged that “no subject should be taboo” for the UK public broadcaster’s output, as she unveiled a number of new commissions last night. Speaking at an event in London, Kirkham outlined her vision for BBC factual commissioning, saying the pubcaster could not “shy away from ambitious, complicated programmes”. Kirkham […]

BBC rejigs factual unit under McDonald

UK pubcaster the BBC has restructured its specialist factual and natural history units team, handing execs new roles and creating new positions. Tom McDonald will remain at the helm of the natural history and specialist factual departments, but now as overall strategy for television and digital. His post covers natural history, science, religion and ethics […]

BBC confirms Kirkham as factual chief

UK pubcaster the BBC has confirmed Alison Kirkham as its permanent controller of factual commissioning. Kirkham has been in the role in an acting capacity since May 2015 after Emma Swain took a secondment to an internal BBC role assessing future commissioning, channels and online strategy options. Swain recently left the organisation, however, and Kirkham […]