Former Channel 4 youth head Karl Warner is to head a new BBC Studios creative team focused on entertainment formats.
Warner, once the BBC’s youngest ever commissioner at the age of 26, takes up the role of BBC Studios Productions executive vice president of UK entertainment and digital development.
Primarily running a team that will create new IP and formats for the BBC and other UK and international clients, Warner will also work with labels such as the recently-launched Rebel Rebel Pictures as well as creating new labels.
His unit will also work with BBCS’ global entertainment teams to identify and adapt international formats, particularly from the US, for the UK market, to be produced by the BBC Entertainment production business, the 220-strong team run by UK entertainment managing director Suzy Lamb.
Warner had worked for C4 for six years, initially as E4 controller. He helped bring former UKTV hit Taskmaster to C4 as well as E4’s UK version of international formats Married at First Sight and Below Deck, alongside shows such as I Literally Just Told You, Josh Must Win and Teen First Dates.
He has also run his own indie Electric Ray and has worked for Monkey Kingdom and Big Brother.
In his time at the BBC, Warner helped to create shows including Russell Howard’s Good News, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Junior Doctors.
