Theresa Plummer-Andrews, the development exec who has launched scores of animated and live-action kids shows, and helped champion European produced animated content, is stepping down as head of acquisitions for CBBC, the childrens channel of the BBC. Former BBC executive and Create TV co-founder Michael Carrington has been appointed the new acquisitions chief, according to CBBC controller Dorothy Prior.
Carrington returns to CBBC after spending four years as head of television & new media at independent production company Create TV & Film Limited. His position starts in January 2004 and will be working with Plummer-Andrews as she transitions out.
I'm delighted Michael is joining us. This is one of the most important jobs in children's television and it's probably the only role that could tempt Michael away from Create, said Prior.
"He has a thorough knowledge of the children's market place and considerable experience of buying and co-producing both live action and animation, Prior continued. He will be a huge asset to our senior team and I'm confident he will acquire the very best children's programming to complement our home-grown output."
Carrington, a co-founder of Create TV & Film in London, is responsible for providing creative, editorial and managerial leadership across the company's programming and new media activities.
As CBBC's deputy head of acquisitions from 1993 to 1999, Carrington was responsible for acquiring a wide range of programming, including THE WILD THORNBERRIES (MTV Networks), ROUND THE TWIST IV (Australian Children's Television Foundation) and SWEET VALLEY HIGH (Saban). Carrington also formulated the initial strategy for the BBC's two digital channels, CBBC and CBeebies, in consultation with the then deputy director of television, David Docherty.
While at LEGO Media and then Create TV, Carrington helped launched the BBC TV series LITTLE ROBOTS, as well as the 3D home video movie BIONICLE: MASK OF LIGHT.
Carrington said: "I'm very much looking forward to returning to CBBC. This has always been my dream job and while ideally I would have preferred to stay at Create, the offer of one of the top jobs in British children's television is one that I could not turn down."
Plummer-Andrews joined the BBC in 1986 as a producer in childrens programs and was later promoted to head of acquisitions and creative development for BBC Childrens Intl. Plummer-Andrews has launched many shows and championed working with broadcasters around Europe to champion the creations of many animators and production companies.
Recent productions include PINGU, SNAILSBURY TALES, POSTMAN PAT, BOB THE BUILDER, ANDY PANDY, NODDY and BILL & BEN.
