Channel 4 bolsters its Nations and Regions team

15 September 2016

Channel 4’s N&R Manager, Ian Mackenzie

 

Channel 4 has today announced that it will bolster its Nations and Region team with the appointment of a new executive and the expansion of the role of its N&R manager.

Channel 4’s N&R Manager, Ian Mackenzie, has appointed Deborah Dunnett from Scottish independent production company Raise the Roof to the newly created role of Nations & Regions Executive.

Reporting to Ian, the role is part of a strategic arm of Channel 4 Commissioning focussed on development funding, company support and delivery of the broadcaster’s regional production targets.

Based in Channel 4’s Glasgow office, Deborah’s role will involve working closely with a number of genre commissioners and providing increased creative support for the development of regional production companies UK-wide.

Ian said: “I’m delighted to be bringing Deborah on board. Her creative track record, particularly with Channel 4 programming, makes her a true asset and ally to the production companies outside of London, and will add huge value to our development support of them on an ongoing basis.”

Deborah, who is due to take up her new Channel 4 post in December, said: “It’s been a real privilege to be part of Raise the Roof’s incredible success since it started in 2010, but the opportunity to champion all the talent in our nations and regions for a broadcaster whose attitude and vision I have long loved is truly thrilling. I’m itching to get started.”

During her time with Raise the Roof, one of Channel 4’s biggest regional suppliers, Deborah’s Executive Producer credits include Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas and Phil Spencer Secret Agent for C4; alongside Holiday of My Lifetime for BBC.  She also spent five years as the indie’s Head of Development.

The appointment comes as it is revealed that Ian Mackenzie’s role as Nations and Regions Manager has been expanded to encompass on-going engagement with independent production companies nationwide as channel 4’s Indie Advocate – a role that will seek to strengthen the broadcaster’s ongoing supplier relations throughout the UK.

 

Notes to Editors

In 2015 Channel 4 invested £149m in original content in Nations and Regions.

Regional indies continue to deliver successful returning hits – No Offence (Manchester’s Abbotsvision); Homes by the Sea (True North); Gadget Man (North One Television); Speed With Guy Martin (also North One); Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures), now on C4 for over twenty years; This Is England ’90 (Quadratray) and Food Unwrapped (Ricochet).

For a third successive year, more than half of all first-run originations were from suppliers outside of London, +53% up two per cent YoY.

Spend in Wales has nearly doubled year on year to circa £8m.

Spend in Scotland increased by circa 18% to £19m. New series Supershoppers and returning favourites Location; Love It Or List It; Fifteen To One and Man Down.

Significant Alpha Fund investment in Northern Ireland has seen several prominent commissions, several of which will deliver later in 2016.

Channel 4 piloted eight production placements with Glasgow-based indies in collaboration with Think Bigger with a view to rolling this out to other cities.