Richard Woolfe

Richard Woolfe is a senior British broadcast figure.[1] Woolfe is currently Creative Director of Prime Focus Productions, the UK arm of Prime Focus Group, a role recently created for him to help spearhead the post-production house's push into TV production, with a focus on high-end drama and entertainment formats. Woolfe was formerly channel controller of Sky1 and Channel 5.[2]

According to The Guardian, "there is no one more noisy in UK TV management than Woolfe".[3]

Career

Woolfe's first major roles in the television industry were as Head of Entertainment at Planet 24, Editor of Entertainment Programmes at Granada Television and Entertainment and Features Producer at the BBC and at Real Television. He also served as Controller of LivingTV, Ftn and Bravo (UK TV channel).[4]

Woolfe took up the role of Head of Sky1, Sky2 and Sky3 at BSkyB in January 2006, before moving to Channel 5 to become Channel Controller in April 2009.[4] He is currently Creative Director of Prime Focus Productions.

Credits and awards

Whilst at LivingTV, Woolfe was named Industry player of the year at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International TV festival.

As Director of Programmes at Sky1, 2 & 3, Woolfe overhauled the entire channel brand, and oversaw the acquisition and development of award-winning US dramas, including Lost (TV series) and Prison Break, and home-grown entertainment and drama formats including Ross Kemp on Gangs. The production of Terry Pratchett's 'Hogfather' "marked a new era of domestically produced drama for Sky, entertaining audiences of over 2.8 million and securing Sky1 its first ever BAFTA. In 2008, Sky1 was named Broadcast's Best Digital Entertainment Channel under Woolfe's leadership.[1] Woolfe acquired a further BAFTA for Ross Kemp on Gangs. Also at Sky, Woolfe resurrected Gladiators (UK TV series), which secured a total audience of over 1.6m for its launch show.[3]

Woolfe's producer credits include: That's Life!, The National Lottery Live, the first £1m Survivor (UK TV series) final, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy UK, Extreme Makeover UK, Gladiators (UK TV series) (executive producer), Don't Forget The Lyrics! (co-executive producer) and Don't Stop Believing (executive producer).[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "UK Screen Association News - Richard Woolfe Joins Prime Focus Productions". Ukscreenassociation.co.uk. http://www.ukscreenassociation.co.uk/news/articles.htm?aId=3043. Retrieved 2011-10-19. 
  2. ^ Mark Sweney. "Former Sky 1 and Channel 5 channel controller joins Prime Focus". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jun/02/television-channelfive. Retrieved 2011-10-19. 
  3. ^ a b Leigh Holmwood. "Richard Woolfe profile: controller set to make a big noise at Channel Five". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/nov/13/channelfive-bskyb. Retrieved 2011-10-19. 
  4. ^ a b Richard Woolfe. "Richard Woolfe: Executive Profile & Biography". BusinessWeek. http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=25472123&privcapId=26356&previousCapId=5531274&previousTitle=Five. Retrieved 2011-10-19. 
  5. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1484571/filmoyear