The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) announced on Tuesday morning that Danny Cohen, its director of television, is leaving the corporation after eight years at the company.
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During his years in the role, Cohen has overseen a slew of hit shows, including the likes of Poldark, Wolf Hall, Top of the Lake, Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders, and Last Tango In Halifax.
Director general Tony Hall said that Cohen has “further enhanced the BBC’s reputation for quality programming that is full of ambition and creativity”, as well as leading the “incredible resurgence” of drama at the Corporation.
Cohen has led the BBC’s controversial decision to make the youth-orientated channel BBC3 an online-only service and create a production powerhouse in BBC Studios.
His job involved dealing with a series of high-profile disputes and criticisms.
However according to sources, Cohen and Hall were said to have disagreed on a few issues, most notably how to handle the former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson.
He also apologised to Sir Tom Jones after the singer complained of “sub-standard behaviour from the executives” when he was sacked as a judge on The Voice.
The 41-year-old came under fire in July after allegedly orchestrating the infamous “luvvies letter” – signed by 29 celebrities including Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Craig – telling David Cameron that his plans to reform the BBC would damage Britain. BBC Television is on brilliant creative form. I feel very privileged to have led television for the world’s finest public service broadcaster and to have worked with so many smart and talented people.
He added: “There has never been a more exciting time for television and digital media”.
After eight years in charge, he will take on a mysterious new leadership role outside of the corporation, but he has yet to elaborate on what this may be.
As a youngest person to be appointed at the broadcaster in 2007 (BBC 3), Cohen hold a substantial position at the BBC. His new job has not been announced. It had been speculated that he was considering other offers from both the USA and UK.
The BBC’s director-general, Lord Hall, wished Mr Cohen well and described him as “one of TV’s great talents”. Prior to joining the BBC, he was head of Channel 4’s E4 and before that head of Channel 4 documentaries.
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Cohen has been serving as Director Of Television for the past two years and in that time has been responsible for all the channels under the BBC’s remit including the iPlayer and commissioning across drama, comedy and factual. He has been instrumental in the success of entertainment stars including James Corden and Adil Ray (Citizen Khan) and made a point of saying the BBC should not have “panel shows on any more with no women on them”.
