Piers Wenger to assume Julie Gardner's role
Tuesday, 11 December 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC Press Office has announced that Piers Wenger will become Head of Drama for BBC Wales in 2009 when its current head Julie Gardnerleaves, and also assumes her role as an executive producer of Doctor Who for its fifth series - this confirms a story this morning from The Guardian.
Piers Wenger, 35, recently left his job as head of drama development at Granada, where he worked on the BAFTA and RTS award-winning Housewife 49. Earlier this year he helped set up independent producer Mammoth Screen. He will join the BBC in the new year and spend a 12 month period taking over from Gardner. He said "I'm incredibly excited to be joining BBC Wales, the success of the drama team there has been extraordinary and I look forward to taking the team to even greater heights. Working with Julie Gardner on Doctor Who over the next year will provide an invaluable insight into the secrets and success of the series. I couldn't have a more inspiring leader."
Gardner will continue to contribute to BBC Wales, and to take the responsibility for the development and commissioning of new Saturday evening drama for BBC One, as well as working with Controller of BBC Fiction, Jane Tranter, on a wide and diverse range of special projects.
Tranter paid tribute to Julie Gardner describing her as "one of the most impressive television executives in the UK". She said "Her success over the past four years in BBC Wales drama has been unparalleled and her work on Doctor Who has earned her a place in TV history."
Gardner herself said she had been on the "trip of a lifetime" over the past five years. "I know that when I hand over my sonic screwdriver to Piers for season five of Doctor Who, it will be to someone who loves and understands the show."
Gardner will continue to work on Doctor Who for the next year, overseeing the fourth series, as well as three specials for broadcast in 2009.
Piers Wenger, 35, recently left his job as head of drama development at Granada, where he worked on the BAFTA and RTS award-winning Housewife 49. Earlier this year he helped set up independent producer Mammoth Screen. He will join the BBC in the new year and spend a 12 month period taking over from Gardner. He said "I'm incredibly excited to be joining BBC Wales, the success of the drama team there has been extraordinary and I look forward to taking the team to even greater heights. Working with Julie Gardner on Doctor Who over the next year will provide an invaluable insight into the secrets and success of the series. I couldn't have a more inspiring leader."
Gardner will continue to contribute to BBC Wales, and to take the responsibility for the development and commissioning of new Saturday evening drama for BBC One, as well as working with Controller of BBC Fiction, Jane Tranter, on a wide and diverse range of special projects.
Tranter paid tribute to Julie Gardner describing her as "one of the most impressive television executives in the UK". She said "Her success over the past four years in BBC Wales drama has been unparalleled and her work on Doctor Who has earned her a place in TV history."
Gardner herself said she had been on the "trip of a lifetime" over the past five years. "I know that when I hand over my sonic screwdriver to Piers for season five of Doctor Who, it will be to someone who loves and understands the show."
Gardner will continue to work on Doctor Who for the next year, overseeing the fourth series, as well as three specials for broadcast in 2009.
Subscribe to News
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Contact Us
