Richard Watsham

As Director of Commissioning, Richard Watsham oversees all aspects of UKTV originations across editorial, production and commercial partnerships. He and his team of programme-makers-turned-commissioners produce bold, brand-defining programmes across every genre, except for sport, children's and current affairs.

Richard has led the commissioning team since 2014 and in that time he's focused on strengthening talent and indie relationships while overseeing a huge expansion into new genres. During his tenure he's delivered a more than six fold increase in the number of shows UKTV commissions and the team is now commissioning for more channels across the network than ever before.

Richard and his team have been responsible for stand-out entertainment hits such as Dynamo: Magician Impossible, BAFTA and Emmy nominated Taskmaster, Judge Romesh, Hypothetical and Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish. In factual and fact ent, major successes include Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, Inside the Ambulance and the landmark, specialist factual series, Expedition with Steve Backshall.

In scripted, Murder on the Blackpool Express and Red Dwarf have been the highest rating shows for Gold and Dave respectively. They are joined by commissions Flack for W, Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes for Gold and the latest additions to the portfolio, a slate of new crime dramas for pay channel, Alibi, Traces and We Hunt Together.