ScreenSkills Chair Steps Down

Former Endemol Shine boss Richard Johnston is stepping down from TV and film industry body ScreenSkills. Johnston will be replaced by Vice Chair Lisa Opie temporarily, while Kate Lyndon becomes interim Vice Chair. “It’s been an absolute privilege to chair ScreenSkills over the last seven years, during which time we’ve completely reinvented the organization and helped thousands of people across the industry,” said Johnston. Amongst other areas, Johnston played a significant role in creating the Unscripted TV Skills Fund, which has received an income of £5.67M ($7.1M) from 367 production companies to date. He was also key to securing BFI-awarded National Lottery funding for the Future Film Skills Programme, which supported more than 90,544 new entrants to the sector.

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Unveils ‘BGT Reacts’ Spin-Off

The producters behind ITV juggernaut Britain’s Got Talent are forging a spin-off show titled BGT Reacts. Thames said the series will feature some of the UK’s biggest content creators reacting to the acts taking the stage on the reality talent show. The creators, who have not been announced yet, are set to be joined by notable acts from former seasons of Britain’s Got Talent, as well as surprise celebrities. Six 15-minute episodes will drop on ITVX each week, immediately after the main show airs on ITV1. “As well as being one of the favourite parts of the series for traditional linear viewers, we know that the auditions generate a huge social footprint online each series,” said Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV. Britain’s Got Talent is currently on its 17th edition, which is set to air in the spring. Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli will return.  BGT Reacts is executive produced by Pete Cornes and Jamie Crossan, Head of Digital at Thames. It was commissioned by Lily Wilson, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment at ITV.