STV Studios Factual Hires Mark Hedgecoe

STV Studios has appointed Mark Hedgecoe as Creative Director of STV Studios Factual, one of the UK's foremost unscripted producers.

He will join the Glasgow team in October and report directly to STV Studios’ CEO, David Mortimer.

Hedgecoe is a multi-award-winning creative with more than 25 years' experience in factual television. He moves from Rogan Productions, where he has served as Head of Rogan Scotland since establishing the company's Glasgow hub in 2021.

At Rogan, he oversaw a broad slate including The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone (BBC), Becoming Frida Kahlo (BBC), Original Sin: My Son the Killer (Showmax), Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie? (BBC), The Secret of Me (Channel 4) and Freddie Mercury: The Final Act (BBC) – the latter winning the International Emmy for Best Arts Programming in 2022.

Previously, Hedgecoe spent much of his career at the BBC. He began as a BBC News trainee and rose to Head of Pacific Quay Productions at BBC Studios, leading teams in Glasgow, London and Salford across titles such as This Farming Life, Imagine, Songs of Praise and The Big Painting Challenge. He also led BBC Arts production across the UK and was Deputy Head of the BBC Science Unit.

Hedgecoe arrives as STV Studios Factual enjoys strong momentum, following conversation-driving documentaries The Beauty Queen and the Catfish – a breakout BBC iPlayer box set – and Disease X: Hunting the Next Pandemic (BBC).

The label is also a market leader in antiques and collectables formats, delivering long-running series including BBC favourites Antiques Road Trip and The Travelling Auctioneers, the Auction House franchise for Quest, and Channel 4 newcomer The Antiques Riviera.

He will succeed Craig Hunter, who has been Creative Director of STV Studios Factual since 2019 and will leave the business later this year.

He said: "It's been a fantastic five years running Rogan Scotland, helping to create the company’s successful base in Glasgow. I've loved working with the team at Rogan and am extremely proud of the films and series we have made. The time now feels right for a new challenge.

"I've watched STV Studios Factual grow over the last decade into one of the country's leading unscripted production labels. I'm so looking forward to working with David and the talented team there on nurturing much-loved returning formats, as well as developing new ideas into exciting must-see programmes. Now is a great opportunity to expand the label’s brand further in the UK and across the international stage."

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