Elizabeth Clark has been appointed to lead the new BBC network radio production hub for Scotland and Northern Ireland, the BBC has confirmed.
Having worked in audio and digital productions for three decades, Clark brings a wealth of experience to the role. Currently assistant editor for speech and topical radio for BBC Scotland Productions, she has led successful teams across Scotland’s main production bases, delivering high quality content for multiple networks. Recent podcast successes include The Missing Madonna and Bible John: Creation of a Serial Killer.
During her varied career in speech and music production, she has worked on numerous projects including delivering pioneering digital archive streams for BBC Radio Scotland, launching the pop-up BBC Radio Pudsey and helping to move teams to the BBC’s Pacific Quay building in Glasgow.
She’s worked with a long list of high-profile talent including Mel Giedroyc, Mark Kermode, Annie Nightingale, Sir Nicholas Parsons, Paul O’Grady and Robert Downey Jr. During a two-year stint with CBC Radio in Canada, she produced a broad range of arts and music content.
As head of production for the new unit, Clark will lead a team of around 30 across BBC sites in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Her team will produce content across various genres, focusing on arts and culture, factual, drama and readings, jazz and classical music.
In addition to existing network radio content that’s made in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Scotland will see the arrival of BBC World Service’s World Book Club and Radio 3’s Jazz Record Requests, alongside 50 annual episodes of Radio 4’s flagship arts programme Front Row and 12 episodes of Loose Ends. Scotland will also become the home of BBC Audio’s production of Radio 4’s books and readings programming, while Radio 4’s Pick of the Week will move to Belfast.
The creation of the substation multi-site production unit was confirmed in December 2023, bringing together teams working on network radio programming and increasing the volume of content that is made for BBC Radio, BBC Sounds and BBC World Service from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The move forms part of the BBC’s ambitious Across the UK plan, centred around moving shows, talent, teams, and content away from London to allow the BBC to better reflect, represent and serve all audiences. Clark will start in her new role in March, and the new unit will launch in April 2024.
She said: “I’ve been fortunate to follow my childhood dream to work in radio over the past three decades and feel very privileged to take on this new role. I’m excited about the opportunities the new production unit will create to showcase world class audio from Scotland and Northern Ireland across BBC Radio, BBC World Service and BBC Sounds. I can’t wait to bring this talented team together and get started!”
Graham Ellis, controller of BBC Audio added: “Lizzy Clark’s radio and leadership credentials make her the perfect choice to lead our new BBC Audio production base for Scotland and Northern Ireland. She will bring together a highly skilful and creative team to work on a wide range of programmes, including those moving from England to Scotland and Northern Ireland this year as part of the BBC’s commitment to commissioning more high-quality audio content from across the UK.”
The establishment of the new production hub in Scotland and Northern Ireland sees BBC Radio making a multi-million investment in Scotland and Northern Ireland over the next three years. BBC Audio will now have vibrant network radio production hubs in all the four nations, bringing more investment into different parts of the UK, enhancing portrayal and supporting the nations’ audio sectors.
BBC Audio is the BBC’s in-house audio production team, with current teams in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol and Salford. They produce podcasts, radio and music programmes, deliver live events, provide creative services and forge partnerships across the BBC’s network radio stations, BBC World Service and BBC Sounds.
