Ralph Lee joins BBC Studios as director of content

Former Channel 4 executive Ralph Lee has been appointed director of content for BBC Studios, the corporation has announced.

In the newly created role, Lee, who was previously Channel 4’s deputy chief creative officer and head of factual, will have “overall control of BBC Studios production’s creative strategy in the UK”, the BBC said.

Lee said: “I am thrilled to be joining BBC Studios at such a key point in its journey, off the back of its commercial debut and recent merger.

“With depth and richness across multiple genres, BBC Studios already has fantastic creative credentials, and I am looking forward to working with everyone there to realise our future ambitions and take our output from strength to strength.”

The TV executive had most recently been interim chief creative officer at Channel 4, having been deputy chief creative officer for three years from 2014-2017.

Prior to that he was Channel 4’s head of factual from 2010-2014 and commissions under his tenure included The Secret Life Of Four Year Olds, Grayson Perry: All Man, Gogglebox, First Dates, Benefits Street and Educating Yorkshire.

BBC studios chief executive officer Tim Davie said: “We are delighted to welcome Ralph to BBC Studios.

“His passion for programmes that are intelligent, unexpected and entertaining is plain to see – and he brings a proven ability to understand what audiences want, and to partner with creatives to deliver it.”

BBC Studios is the production and distribution arm of the corporation and is responsible for producing TV programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing and Doctor Who.