Jay Hunt to step down as Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer

2 June 2017

Jay Hunt will step down from the role of Chief Creative Officer at Channel 4 at the end of September after almost seven years leading the broadcaster’s creative strategy and programme commissioning.

Since joining in January 2011, Jay has led a successful creative renewal of the corporation’s on-screen output, commissioning a wide range of successful and critically acclaimed new returning series across a range of genres.  In the last three years, Channel 4 has been named the Edinburgh TV Festival and Broadcast Channel of the Year four times; with E4 named Digital Channel of the Year twice, and All4 named best Digital Platform. 

Jay Hunt said: “I've loved being at Channel 4 and am incredibly proud of how far we have come creatively.  From the multiple Channel of the Year awards to the raft of global hits, we've had real success.  I've been lucky to have a superlative boss in David Abraham and to have been supported by the best commissioning team in the business. I also owe a huge thank you to the brilliant producers, directors, writers and on screen talent who've made it such a thrilling time to be at the helm.

“I will continue in post till the end of September and am looking forward to Channel 4 delivering not just an exciting summer of sport but the richest autumn schedule we've ever had with big shows from the Great British Bake Off to Electric Dreams. It'll be business as usual till October.

"Channel 4 is a unique and special place. I've really enjoyed leading this phase of its creative renewal and I'll be cheering the new leadership team on from afar."

Channel 4 Chief Executive, David Abraham said: “Jay took on one of the biggest challenges in broadcasting back in 2011 and through immense creativity, courage and determination has delivered magnificently. In recent years the delivery of our remit and our creative output has reached new heights and both I, the staff of Channel 4 and the whole industry owe Jay huge thanks for all she has achieved."

Channel 4 Chair, Charles Gurassa said: “Jay has made an outstanding and unique contribution to Channel 4. Under her leadership the Channel has re-established itself as a creative powerhouse; innovative, imaginative and risk taking. My colleagues and I are hugely grateful for all she has achieved and wish her every success in her next venture.”

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Notes to editors:

Jay Hunt became Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4 in January 2011.  She has led a creative turnaround of Channel 4’s schedules and channels, commissioning a range of successful returning series including Gogglebox, First Dates, Humans, No Offence, Catastrophe, Hunted, Child Genius, The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds, Benefits Street, The Island and The Undateables. Jay led the team that delivered the acclaimed coverage of the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games and brought both Formula One and The Great British Bake Off to Channel 4.

Under her leadership Channel 4 has received an unprecedented range of industry acclaim, including being named Edinburgh International TV Festival Channel of the Year in 2014 and 2016, and Broadcast Channel of the Year in 2016 and 2017; and more BAFTA awards than any other channel in 2014 and 2015 and more Royal Television Society programme awards than any other channel in 2014 and 2016. E4 was named Broadcast Digital Channel of the Year in 2015 and 2016; and All4 best Digital Platform in 2016.

Prior to joining Channel 4, Jay was Controller of BBC ONE, where she was responsible for commissioning acclaimed shows including Sherlock, Luther and Mrs Brown’s Boys; and before that she was Director of Programmes at Channel 5.  Jay was also Controller of BBC Daytime, and spent 15 years in BBC News working on Breakfast, Newsnight and Panorama before becoming Editor of the Six o’Clock News.