Hamish Mykura, Head of Documentaries, to leave Channel 4

Hamish Mykura is to leave Channel 4 after 10 years at the broadcaster.  As Head of Documentaries he was responsible for hit series ranging from One Born Every Minute and 24 Hours in A&E to Educating Essex and Fighting on the Frontline.

Chief Creative Officer Jay Hunt said: "Hamish has been an inspiring and dynamic Head of Documentaries, keeping Channel 4 at the forefront of innovative film-making.  He has a talent for generating programmes that are genuinely creative as well as popular, and reflect every angle of modern Britain."

Mykura was made Head of More 4 in 2008.  Under his leadership, it grew from the 12th to the 8th most watched UK digital channel, whilst True Stories established itself as the premiere international documentary strand in the UK. 

In Documentaries Mykura oversaw Cutting Edge and First Cut as well as a range of new fixed camera rig series which became major hits for Channel 4.  Katie: My Beautiful Friends, Amish: The World's Squarest Teens and Seven Dwarves were series that brought minority subject matter to a mainstream audience.

Mykura ran the Specialist Factual department at C4 from 2004 to 2008.  His commissions included award-winning docudramas Trafalgar Battle Surgeon, Nuremburg: Goering's Last Stand and City of Vice. He gained a reputation for risk-taking with challenging single films such as Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel and 9/11: The Falling Man, polemical series including Richard Dawkins' The Root of All Evil and innovative new formats such as the anatomy series of Gunther von Hagens.

Hamish Mykura said: "I've loved every minute of my time at Channel 4.  The Channel gives such a range of film makers an opportunity to reflect the modern world.  It's a great institution and I'm sure it will go from strength to strength under its present leadership."

Hamish will make an announcement about his future plans in due course.