BBC Scotland has announced that Alan Tyler, currently head of comedy and entertainment, has been appointed to the new role of executive editor, entertainment commissioning.

The post has been created as part of the Network Supply objective of building up genre-based commissioning resource in the Nations, as announced by Jana Bennett in October 2008. 

This new role will report to the controller of entertainment commissioning, Mark Linsey, and to the heads of programmes in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Donalda MacKinnon and Ailsa Orr respectively. 
 
Based in Scotland, Tyler will be responsible for developing a strategic overview of the independent sector for entertainment in Scotland and Northern Ireland.  He will manage key relationships with independent production companies in the two nations and will foster close links on their behalf with decision makers within the BBC. 

Tyler will also act as the BBC’s ambassador, championing the entertainment strategy in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and implementing it through the development and delivery of original and high profile commissions.  He will build and develop creative talent in independents in the two nations and will work closely with multiplatform commissioners to realise the full potential of ideas across multiple channels and platforms.

During his three years as head of comedy and entertainment at BBC Scotland, Tyler was responsible for launching the sitcoms 'The Old Guys' starring Roger Lloyd Pack, and 'Life Of Riley' starring Caroline Quentin for BBC1, 'How Not to Live your Life' for BBC3, and the comedy drama 'No Holds Bard' which lured Ashley Jensen back from LA. He built an in-house entertainment slate which included shows such as 'Jet set 2012', 'Your Country Needs You'  and  'This Time Tomorrow with Tess Daly'  as well as executive producing indie productions including 'The Kids Are Alright' and 'The Eurovision Dance Contest'. He will move to the commissioning role following completion of work on new daytime quiz show 'A Question of Genius' presented by Kirsty Wark and the sitcom pilot 'Me and all the other mothers' starring Katherine Parkinson.
 
Tyler said: "I have relished the challenge of the last three years and have been incredibly lucky in working with great people to build the production slate in Scotland. I am thrilled to be joining Mark's commissioning team and as someone who passionately believes in production talent across the UK, I cannot wait to start working with producers to bring new entertainment formats to the screen."
 
Mark Linsey, BBC’s controller of entertainment commissioning, said: “I'm absolutely delighted that Alan has agreed to take up this key role in entertainment commissioning.  He brings extraordinary energy, enthusiasm and experience to the job and, thanks to his previous role, is the ideal person to forge stronger relationships within the entertainment community in both Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

Donalda MacKinnon, head of programmes and services, BBC Scotland, added: “Alan has played a leading role in developing and delivering successful productions for the network out of BBC Scotland over the last three years.  He is ideally placed to fulfil this exciting new role. His passion and expertise will prove invaluable in developing fruitful relationships with our partners in the independent sector and bringing great content to our audiences.”

The Network Supply strategy recently saw the appointment of Jo Street as Daytime Commissioning Executive based in Scotland.  Three further roles will be announced for Independent Factual commissioning, based in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the next few weeks.