Richard Watsham, chief creative officer at UKTV and global director of acquisitions for BBC Studios and UKTV, will step down from his role this September.
Watsham began his career at UKTV in 2011 as a commissioning editor before being promoted to director of commissioning, a position he held for nine years. In November 2022, he was appointed to his current dual role. Over the years, he has been instrumental in the development of standout programmes such as Taskmaster, Dynamo: Magician Impossible, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, and the recent revival of Bergerac.
UKTV CEO Marcus Arthur praised Watsham’s legacy, saying: “Richard’s contribution to UKTV has been immense. His creative vision and leadership have transformed the reputation and scope of UKTV’s content, delivering hits that have delighted and grown our audiences. Alongside this, he has ensured that UKTV has been an advocate for positive change in the industry, driving initiatives in diversity, inclusion and sustainability. We’re incredibly grateful for everything he’s done for the team and the business, and while we understand his decision to seek a new challenge, he will be sorely missed.”
Reflecting on his departure, Watsham commented: “It’s never easy to leave a place you love, but there are still so many challenges to take on and opportunities to explore, so now feels like the right time. The hardest part is leaving the people. Our resources may be leaner than some of our competitors, but we’ve consistently outperformed thanks to the passion and brilliance of my colleagues at UKTV. They are second to none in the British TV industry—underestimate them at your peril! I’ll miss them every day, but I’m certain our paths will cross again.”