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BBC names new Directors of Entertainment and Factual

February 19, 2026

BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips has introduced changes to the division’s senior leadership team: Fiona Campbell has been appointed Director of Factual and Ed Havard has been appointed Director of Entertainment.

BBC’s Chief Content Officer, Kate Phillips, commented: “In Fiona Campbell and Ed Havard we have two inspirational leaders who will ensure that Entertainment and Factual continue to thrive on the BBC. They’re both committed to delivering distinctive, world class content to BBC iPlayer and the portfolio of channels. Crucially they both put creativity and audiences first and will bring a real energy, clarity and ambition to their teams. I’m looking forward to working closely with them and empowering them to pursue their ambitions for the BBC. I believe these new roles, allowing more time and focus on individual genres, will bring big benefits to Unscripted, and all the amazing producers, creatives and partners we work with.”

On Campbell’s appointment, Phillips said: “Fiona’s extensive experience across Unscripted, BBC iPlayer, BBC Three, Youth audiences and News & Current Affairs makes her uniquely placed to lead BBC Factual into the future. She is an outstanding leader and creative powerhouse with a wealth of broadcasting and digital experience. Fiona has a proven track record of innovation, creativity and an ability to reach young and underserved audiences. She’s committed to the strength of our specialisms and ensuring that we’re in the best possible shape to continue to deliver high quality, distinctive factual content for everyone across the UK. Fiona will continue to be based in Northern Ireland as she takes on this new senior role.”

Campbell (pictured) commented: “It’s a huge privilege to join the BBC Factual team as Director. Together with independent suppliers, the commissioning teams across the UK are delivering world class content to audiences, entertaining and inspiring on a daily basis. I really look forward to what everyone can achieve, how we will innovate further and the impact the content will have on audiences in the UK and beyond in next few years.”

On Havard’s appointment, Phillips said: “Ed brings to the BBC a wealth of invaluable experience. At Channel Four as Head of Entertainment and TV Events he was responsible for a huge variety of shows including The Last Leg, Celebrity Gogglebox, and the BAFTA-award winning Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan. More recently at NBCUniversal as Senior Vice President he has worked with multiple indies and broadcast partners, including the BBC where he led the deal for groundbreaking co-commissions for The Traitors and Destination X. In a former life Ed also worked for the BBC in senior roles across news, factual, events and entertainment. With his vast experience of public service broadcasting, commercial deals, digital strategy and the international market, he is uniquely placed to continue to strengthen the impact of BBC Entertainment for audiences across the UK.”

Havard added: “The past seven years at NBCUniversal have been a genuine joy, working with some of the most talented and generous teams in global television. I will miss them hugely, but the opportunity to return to the BBC and work alongside Kate Phillips is impossible to resist. The BBC’s Entertainment slate across studio, reality, events, formats and lifestyle is one of the most ambitious and prolific in the world, and I can’t wait to start working with the world class entertainment teams across the UK to build on that legacy.”

The Director of Entertainment will oversee and support Entertainment, Daytime, Factual Entertainment and Events and the Director of Factual will oversee and support Arts and Classical Music TV, Documentaries, Storyville and Specialist Factual.

These new roles will begin in the spring. In the meantime, Campbell will continue as the Interim Director of Unscripted and Michael Jochnowitz as the Editor of Unscripted.

When Harvard and Campbell start their new roles, the Director and Editor of Unscripted roles will both close.

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