Kate Phillips also gets the Top Gear poisoned chalice

The BBC is to appoint a new controller of entertainment commissioning, responsible for panel shows including Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week and Would I Lie To You?.

Kate Phillips will also take the poisoned chalice of the revamped Top Gear as well as Saturday-night family shows such as Strictly Come Dancing when she takes up her new role on September 5.

She is  currently creative director of formats at BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial arm, selling programme ideas and scripted shows such as The Office worldwide. Before that, she  was a channel executive for BBC One and BBC Three.

Phillips replaces Mark Linsey, who is now director of BBC Studios, the corporation's programme-making wing. Alan Tyler, a former head of comedy at BBC Scotland, has temporarily held the role for the past eight months.

Charlotte Moore, the BBC's controller of TV channels, said Phillips was 'perfectly placed to lead BBC entertainment commissioning into the future. Having worked across channels and most recently for BBC Worldwide where she has overseen formats across the globe, she has entertainment running th

Published: 23 Jun 2016