News 2006

RDF Media Group, a leading UK independent television production and rights company, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Hill as Head of Daytime & Features RDF Media West. RDF Media West is a new division of the Group's award-winning production company RDF Media.

Hill is one of the BBC's most prolific creators of format factual shows and, as Deputy Head of Programmes at Factual & Learning's Bristol base, is currently responsible for over £15m of output, delivering over 150 network hours a year. He will join RDF Media in early May and be based out of London & Bristol reporting into RDF Media's Director of Programmes Grant Mansfield.

In Daytime he has created and executive produced some of Factual & Learning's most successful shows such as Bargain Hunt, Flog It, Perfect Partner and Living Famously as well as a creating a clutch of newly commissioned BBC daytime pilots and series. On peaktime BBC1 he created DIY SOS (now in its 13th series) and has also been responsible for series such as Antiques Roadshow, Holiday Swaps, 20th Century Roadshow, Antiques Inspectors and Barking Mad and has a raft of new BBC1 series in production; on BBC2 he created and executive produced successful leisure formats such as All the Right Moves, Fresh Food, The Antiques Show, The Joy Of, The Curious Gardeners and Every Home Should Have One; on BBC3 he has been responsible for The Bachelor, Desperate Midwives and Stars in Fast Cars.

In addition to eleven years in BBC factual production, in both London and Bristol, Hill has also worked in the independent sector for Pearson and for three ITV companies, including GMTV and five years at LWT Factual.

Hill's appointment follows recent hirings from UK broadcasters and the independent sector as the Group expands its genre portfolio, US operations and now regional presence.

Grant Mansfield, Director of Programmes, RDF Media said: "We see daytime as a real growth opportunity for RDF and are delighted to attract someone of Mark's talent and experience in this genre. He will be responsible for our company's renewed focus in this area; as well as bringing his wealth of knowledge to our features output."

Mark Hill said: "I've had a great run at the BBC, but RDF's reputation, creativity and ambition are a very attractive combination and I'm really looking forward to becoming part of that team. Right now there's tremendous opportunity and competition to create long-running successful factual formats in both daytime and peaktime across all Channels and I'm relishing the challenge of bringing my experience and track record to the market."