Overview and Experience
Patrick became Director of Factual, Arts & Classical Music in April 2021. Previously, from March 2017 he was Channel Controller of BBC Two, following his earlier appointment as Channel Editor in July 2016.
During his time at BBC Two he oversaw the revitalisation of the channel as a vital cultural force, re-inventing history and documentary output (Once Upon a Time in Iraq, The Detectives, Hospital, Murder 24/7, The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty) and creating a raft of factual entertainment successes (Sewing Bee with Joe Lycett, Interior Design Masters, rejuvenated Top Gear, Race Across the World). Under his leadership the channel built an unparalleled pipeline of series that graduated to BBC One, finding even bigger audiences and impact.
BBC Two titles that won awards and recognition during his tenure include A House through Time, Civilisations, Black Hollywood, Motherland, The Ranganation, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Inside no. 9, Alma’s Not Normal, Surgeons, The Planets, Thatcher, The Rise of the Nazis, Black Earth Rising, Doing Money and Responsible Child.
BBC Two won the channel of the year awards in 2020 and 2021 at the Edinburgh TV Awards and Broadcast Awards.
Prior to joining BBC Two, Patrick was Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, leading one of the biggest commissioning teams at the BBC, responsible for a huge range of output across all channels. From The Real Marigold Hotel and How To Die: Simon’s Choice (BBC Two) to Abused: The Untold Story (BBC One), the award-winning global documentary strand Storyville (BBC Four), through to BBC Three stand-out films Chasing Dad and Murdered By My Father.
Other highlights include Camila’s Kids’ Company: The Inside Story (BBC One), Syrian Love Story (BBC Four), Louis Theroux: Savile (BBC Two), Behind Closed Doors (BBC One), and Professor Green’s Suicide And Me film (BBC Three).
Before the BBC, Patrick was the managing director of one of the UK’s biggest factual independent production companies, Boundless (part of Fremantle Media UK). Whilst there he created a raft of new documentary series including An Hour To Save Your Life (BBC Two), World’s Toughest Jobs (BBC Three), Britain At The Bookies (BBC One) and Dara And Ed’s Great Big Adventure (BBC Two).
Patrick also oversaw the revitalisation of The Apprentice and Grand Designs (both Bafta-nominated in 2015) and executive produced the feature documentary The Class Of ’92 (Universal). Before joining Boundless Patrick was the Director of Factual at Ricochet, where he ran Born To Be Different (Channel 4), executive produced Space Shuttle: The Final Mission (BBC Two) and established the new talent documentary strand My Crazy Life (Channel 4).
