The BBC Documentary Brief: Meet the commissioners

In Conversation, Commissioning

TIME & LOCATION

Wednesday 11 November, 4:30 pm

End Time: 5:30 pm

Studio Theatre

About

The BBC Documentary Brief: Meet the commissioners.

Chair

Claire Hughes

SPONSOR

Panel

Fran Baker

Commissioning Editor Documentaries BBC Factual

Fran Baker is a Manchester-based BBC Documentaries commissioning editor. Fran has spent most of her career in Manchester, where she Executive Produced for 10 years, including in-house at Blakeway North, as well as working as a freelance Exec and running her own production company. As a commissioning editor at the BBC, Fran has looked after titles including Love and Loss: The Pandemic 5 Years On, Ambulance, Stacey Dooley: Rape on Trial, and Bafta nominated Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour. Winning commissions as well as looking after multiple singles and series before that as an Exec, Fran has championed new documentary making talent in the north throughout her career.

Janine Thomas

Commissioning Editor - BBC Storyville,

With a background in both documentaries and current affairs at SKY UK and Channel 4, Janine brings a strong track record of nurturing new talent both on and off screen and delivering high impact films and series.

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Adam McDonald

BBC’s Factual Editor (YouTube)

Adam is a Factual Editor, heading up the BBC YouTube channels and leading the editorial strategy for content aimed at young audiences. He shapes how the BBC’s storytelling works natively on YouTube for 16-24 year olds, and commissions original, digital-first formats - working with independent production companies and departments across the BBC to do so.

Claire Hughes (Chair)

Freelance Executive Producer

Claire Hughes is an Executive Producer, former BBC commissioner and senior editorial leader with an extensive career spanning some of the UK’s biggest factual and documentary brands, including Panorama and The One Show. Having worked on both sides of the commissioning process, she brings a 360-degree understanding of the documentary landscape, from developing ideas to delivering ambitious films. She is currently working at the forefront of digital-first storytelling, developing and producing YouTube content for major broadcasters, bringing traditional journalistic rigour to new platforms and audiences.