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The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú today announced five new appointments to the new Knowledge Commissioning team and a new Head of Religion in Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio.

Aaqil Ahmed has been appointed to the new joint role of Head of Religion and Ethics and Commissioning Editor for Religion TV.

Aaqil is currently Commissioning Editor for Religion and Multicultural at Channel 4. Recent programmes he has commissioned include Christianity: A History, The Qur'an and the BAFTA-winning Saving Africa's Witch Children.

And, as part of a series of measures to strengthen the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's Religious programmes, Christine Morgan has been appointed Executive Editor and Head of Religion Radio.

Christine Morgan has been Executive Producer, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Religion and Ethics (Radio) since 2004 and is responsible for all religious programmes on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 2, 3 and 4.

Mark Bell becomes Commissioning Editor for Arts.

Currently Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual, Independents, Mark ran Late Review and Newsnight Review (Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Two) before moving into the Music and Arts Department. Recent commissions include Ian Hislop's Changing Of The Bard (Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Four) as part of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Poetry Season and Ian Hislop Goes Off The Rails, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Four's highest-rating factual programme to date.

Charlotte Moore has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Documentaries.

Charlotte is currently acting in this role and her recent commissions include Desperately Hungry Housewives (Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú One), Tribal Wives (Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Two) and Terry Pratchett On Alzheimer's (Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Two).

Creative Executive Producer for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú London Factual, Kim Shillinglaw, becomes Commissioning Editor for Science and Natural History.

Kim is currently overseeing Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú One's new Science Show (working title), Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Two's Incredible Human Journey and the BAFTA-nominated Blood And Guts (Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Four).

Harry Lansdown, former Executive Producer, Factual Independents, has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Three Factual Features and Formats.

Harry has recently commissioned a series of high-profile documentaries for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Three including Britain's Missing Top Model, The World's Strictest Parents and the award-winning Blood Sweat And T-Shirts.

George Entwistle, Controller, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Knowledge Commissioning, said: "I am delighted to be announcing these new appointments.

"We now have a really strong team boasting some of the best talent and expertise in the business.

"Their vision, creative energy and knowledge of programme makers in the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú and the independent community will enable them to commission the very best factual programmes."

Jana Bennett, Director, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Vision, said: "The specialist territories for which these jobs commission go to the very heart of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's public purposes. George Entwistle and Emma Swain have put together a commissioning team with such a high level of expertise and energy that we will be in a great position to deliver lively and distinctive factual content across the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's whole portfolio of television channels and online."

The new Commissioning Editors join Martin Davidson, Commissioning Editor for History and Business, and Jo Ball, Commissioning Editor for Features, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú One and Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Two, who were appointed earlier this year.

The team will be run by Emma Swain, Head of Knowledge Commissioning, who was also appointed earlier this year.

The role of Commissioning Editor Music and Events has yet to be filled and will be announced in due course.

DP