Sky, owned by Comcast in the UK, is making significant changes to its non-scripted division.
Shirley Jones has been elevated to the new position of Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the SNL UK broadcaster. Meanwhile, after a 14-year tenure, Barbara Lee will step down from her commissioning editor role in October, following Dwayne Easton’s departure in March.
With the departures of Lee and Easton, Phil Edgar Jones, Sky’s Executive Director of Original Unscripted, has communicated to his team that he has reevaluated the team’s structure within the entertainment sector and crafted a new organizational layout.
In this new framework, Jones will oversee all entertainment programming, under the guidance of Edgar Jones. Additionally, Sky is in the process of adding three new positions: a development executive, a development producer, and an executive producer. Edgar Jones has recently shared these updates internally.
Since joining Sky in 2015, Jones has been instrumental in launching hit shows like Dynamo is Dead, Miracles, and a revival of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Her latest success, The Dyers’ Caravan Park, marked Sky’s most significant entertainment debut in five years, attracting over a million viewers to every episode.
“Shirley possesses an unmatched knack for entertainment and her skills in nurturing long-lasting relationships with talent and shaping series into a distinctive ‘Sky’ brand are just a few of her remarkable talents,” Edgar Jones remarked in his message. “I am thrilled to see her excel in this new capacity and bring her drive, dedication, and warmth to our dynamic entertainment lineup.”
Edgar Jones also took a moment to laud Lee for her significant contributions to Sky, highlighting her profound impact.
Lee’s portfolio includes popular shows such as A League of Their Own, There’s Something About Movies, Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham, Rob & Romesh Vs, and Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle.
“Barbara was also pivotal in the relaunch of Sky Arts,” he continued. “Her enthusiasm for the arts, exceptional instincts, and excellent industry relationships have been instrumental in transforming the channel into the powerhouse it is today, significantly enhancing its ambition, reputation, and scope.”
Edgar Jones expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming “new chapter of Entertainment at Sky” as he prepared his team for future endeavors.
“I also want to acknowledge the recent bold moves we’ve made that have truly resonated. Much has been discussed about SNL UK, and the feedback from both viewers and the industry has been outstanding, all while promoting fresh British comedic talent. It’s also a delight to quickly renew The Dyers’ Caravan Park following its successful first season, and I am confident that our upcoming series with Gemma Collins will present her in a new light,” he noted.
“We remain on the lookout for new, scalable formats, and Shirley’s recent commission of 100 Day Split – an innovative new relationship series – is pioneering exciting territory for us at Sky, and I believe it will make a significant impact. It’s truly a groundbreaking project that will spark conversations,” he added.
Overseeing all unscripted content at Sky, Edgar Jones has become a prominent figure especially following the launch of SNL UK, one of this year’s most talked-about British TV originals. The first season concludes this Saturday with Ncuti Gatwa as host, and a longer second season of 12 episodes has been confirmed for later this year.
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