Roly Keating

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Roland "Roly" Keating (born August 5, 1961) is the current controller of British television channel BBC Two as of June 2004 and acting controller of BBC One as of October 2007, succeeding Jane Root and Peter Fincham, respectively. He read Classics at Balliol College, Oxford.

He joined the BBC in 1983. He was a producer and director for the Arts and Music department, making programmes for Omnibus, Bookmark (1992-7) and Arena. He was a producer and later became editor of The Late Show. In 1997, he became head of programming for UKTV. In 1999, he became the BBC Controller of Digital Channels. In 2000, he also took on the responsibility of Controller of Arts Commissioning. He became the Controller of digital television station BBC Four in December 2001, masterminding its March 2 2002 launch. In 2003, he was also joint leader of the BBC's Charter Review project for six months.

He wants to see BBC Two be the first mainstream TV channel to be available on broadband. [1].

His decision to screen the Jerry Springer Opera on January 8 2005 forced him to remain in hiding and was given security protection. [2]

Following Peter Fincham handing in his resignation on 5 October 2007, he was appointed temporary controller of BBC One.

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Media offices
New creation Controller of BBC Four
2002 – 2004
Succeeded by
Janice Hadlow
Preceded by
Jane Root
Controller of BBC Two
2004 – present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Peter Fincham
Controller of BBC One
(acting)

2007 – 2008
Succeeded by
Jay Hunt
(designate)