X Factor exec takes ITV role

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ITV's shakeup of entertainment is continuing with The X Factor's executive producer Claire Horton joining the broadcaster's in-house production division.

Horton is becoming ITV Productions' controller of entertainment and replaces Mark Wells, who is moving to a new role as creative director, international formats and independent start-ups in the division.

In his new role Wells has a brief to find UK entertainment formats with the potential to become international hits.

Wells will be responsible for format development, sales and acquisitions, and will editorially manage and develop new independent start-ups.

Horton was an executive producer on all four series of The X Factor for independent producer Talkback Thames.

Since joining Talkback Thames in 2000 as series producer of Pop Idol, Horton has worked on shows including All Star Family Fortunes, Pokerface, Wags' Boutique, Take That For The Record and Grease Is The Word.

Horton was promoted to deputy head of entertainment at Talkback Thames in 2005, working alongside head of department Richard Holloway.

The hiring of Horton by ITV Productions comes just a few days after the departure of the ITV controller of entertainment commissioning, Duncan Gray.

It is understood that John Kaye Cooper, deputy chairman and creative director of independent production company Talent TV, is expected to join ITV's entertainment commissioning team in some kind of caretaker role.

ITV executive chairman Michael Grade and Dawn Airey, the director of the company's global content division, which includes ITV Productions, have emphasised the importance of creating winning entertainment series the company can exploit internationally.

Wells has overseen ITV shows including Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, The Paul O'Grady Show, Des O'Connor and Melanie Sykes' daytime show and the upcoming drama-documentary-reality hybrid format Britannia High.

Horton will report to Jim Allen, ITV Productions' director of factual and entertainment, who said: "Claire has the passion and creativity to ensure ITV Productions' large and diverse entertainment portfolio remains in rude health, as well as creating the next generation of genre-defining hits. It's a big job and she is absolutely the right person at the right time to do it."

John Whiston, director of ITV Productions, added: "Mark's role is a vital part of our plan to fully exploit ITV Productions' formats internationally and to expand exponentially our content production.

"We are currently in the process of acquiring strategic stakes in a few start-up indies run by dynamic programme makers who need the support of a large organisation but want to have the creative freedom and flexibility of their own business. Mark's experience makes him ideally placed to help them grow their businesses and act as the key ITV Productions editorial manager."


Source: guardian