ITV Studios UK Appoints Julian Bellamy

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ITV Studios UK Appoints Julian Bellamy

ITV has appointed Julian Bellamy as Managing Director of ITV Studios UK. Bellamy, Discovery Networks International's Creative Director and Head of Commissioning, takes up the position later this year.

ITV Studios MD, Kevin Lygo, said: Julian is an exceptional talent who combines outstanding creativity with excellent strategic leadership. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a fantastic track record of success in programming, production and business management. I look forward to welcoming him to ITV Studios later in the year.

Bellamy said: I have had a brilliant time at Discovery, but to run one of the UK's most successful production operations is too rare an opportunity to pass up. Denise O'Donoghue has built a fantastic business and I look forward to helping Kevin build on that success.

In his three years at Discovery, Bellamy ran production and development across 200 countries, with commissioning teams in five main international bases.

As Head of Channel 4 from May 2007 to October 2010, Bellamy managed over 2000 hours of original programming a year including Undercover Boss, Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, One Born Every Minute and This is England.

From 2006 he was BBC3's Channel Controller with responsibility for the channel's scheduling and commissioning, increasing the audience share of the channel's core audience of 16-24 year olds by 40%.

As Head of E4 from 2005, Bellamy took the channel to a 24 hours operation, increasing the core audience by 30% and prior to that he was Channel 4's Head of Factual Entertainment having been Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 News and Current Affairs. From 1995, Bellamy was an award-winning current affairs producer/director.

Bellamy succeeds Denise ODonoghue, who recently announced her intention to step down from her role as MD of ITV Studios UK at the end of this year. Following her departure, she will continue to sit on the ITVS Board.

About ITV Studios UK

ITV Studios, the largest commercial production company in the UK, increased revenues by 12% in the UK last year, with significant increases in drama, entertainment and factual commissions. These included the critically acclaimed dramas Lucan and The Widower, returning drama series Vera and Mr Selfridge, entertainment series Big Stars Little Star and Saturday Night Takeaway as well as factual entertainment series The Big Reunion and Paul OGradys For The Love of Dogs which all contributed to the growth of ITVS.

The business also includes a raft of award-winning owned indies, 12 Yard, So TV, Big Talk and The Garden and together we make programmes for all the UK's major broadcasters including ITV, BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Growth in drama, entertainment and factual, has seen original hours commissioned in these genres up 55%, 16% and 49% respectively.

LINK:	http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-studios-uk-appoints-...
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