BBC Studios’ Kids Head Helen Bullough To Depart

Helen Bullough, head of BBC Studios (BBCS) Kids & Family Productions, is leaving the fledgling unit after over a decade at the BBC’s children’s department.

Bullough will leave the recently launched department later this year. It was formed by a merger between BBC Children’s in-house productions, overseen by Bullough since 2018, and BBCS Productions, as part of a wider move to combine BBCS production and content partnerships businesses into a single entity.

Bullough oversaw transfer of the production team from BBC Children’s & Education into BBCS, working with Cecilia Persson, MD of BBCS Kids & Family, to establish the foundations of the business.

This May, the pubcaster revealed it is reorganizing its operations to become a digital-first broadcaster as it seeks to cut costs and realign its business to modern viewing habits. It is estimated the reorg will involve the loss of roughly 1,000 jobs and will see its CBBC channel for six to 17s shutter.

Persson said: “Helen is a highly respected creative leader who has made an invaluable contribution to children’s television in her time with the BBC and BBC Studios. She will be dearly missed, not just for her incredible expertise, empathy and deep understanding for our young audience, but for her warmth, care and exceptional leadership across her production teams.”

Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s & Education, added: “Helen has led the BBC Children’s & Education In-House Production Team with creative flair and passion for the last 11 years, making some of our biggest, award-winning titles as well as long lasting friendships along the way. We will all miss Helen and wish her every success for the future.”