BBC Cymru Wales has announced Alun Jones as the new programme director for its drama centre, currently under construction in Cardiff Bay.
Mr Jones, who will be taking up his role next month, will be responsible for leading the team delivering the Drama Centre, which will house the BBC network dramas Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Casualty and the BBC’s longest-running soap, Pobol y Cwm.
With a formidable track record in leading major, complex projects and more than 17 years working in senior roles in the media industry, Mr Jones brings significant experience to the project. As Integration Director, he played a major role in the merger of Capital Radio and GWR, which created the largest radio group in the UK.
A qualified chartered accountant, he has worked at HTV (now ITV Wales), United News and Media and GCap Media plc.
The Drama Centre will replace two current BBC Wales drama production sites at Llandaff, in Cardiff, and in Upper Boat near Pontypridd. Casualty will move from Bristol.
Basic building work is due to be completed in summer 2011. Once fitted out and screen-ready, filming will begin for Casualty and Pobol y Cwm in autumn 2011, with Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures moving from their current Upper Boat studios in 2012.
The drama production centre plan is key to the BBC’s commitment to double television network production from Wales by 2016, and part of a wider commitment to build a BBC for the whole of the UK by bringing productions closer to the audiences the BBC serves.
Alun Jones said: “The drama centre is a unique project in Wales and I am delighted to be joining the team at this stage of a development which, in addition to allowing BBC Wales to build on the success of its current drama productions, also presents a fantastic opportunity for the wider creative industries in Wales.
“There is an ambitious timetable of work to be completed in the coming year and I’m confident that it will be achieved through the combination of the outstanding talent within the team and the excellent partnerships that have already been put in place.”
BBC Cymru Wales Director Menna Richards said: “I am delighted that someone of Alun’s experience is taking over this important project to deliver a fantastic drama centre that will be of significant benefit to the wider creative industries in Wales.”
