Head of BBC TV quits for ‘new leadership challenge’

Cohen, who made £320,000 a year as the BBC’s director of television, once said that executives at the corporation would “roughly double” their salaries if they worked in the private sector.

Cohen said he had been “approached about a number of exciting opportunities” and wanted “to consider these in an open and transparent way”.

Prior to his current position Cohen served as BBC3 controller from 2007 to 2010 and was responsible for commissioning cult drama Being Human and the critically acclaimed documentary series Our War.

During his years in the role, Cohen has overseen a slew of hit shows, including the likes of Poldark, Wolf Hall, Top of the Lake, Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders, and Last Tango In Halifax.

Concluded Cohen: “There has never been a more exciting time for television and digital media”.

The BBC Director-General, Tony Hall, said that Danny had done an “extraordinary job” and praising him leading the “incredible resurgence of drama on the BBC”.

BBC director general Tony Hall said Cohen had “one hell of a CV”. I know everyone who has worked with Danny has huge admiration for what he has delivered for the BBC.

Mark Linsey, the BBC’s Controller of Entertainment Commissioning, will take on Cohen’s responsibilities until Lord Hall appoints a permanent successor.

During his tenure he had to deal with Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear “fracas” earlier this year and recently apologised to Tom Jones after the Welsh singer was unceremoniously dropped as a judge from The Voice. “I want to wish him well for the future”.

Under Cohen’s leadership, BBC Television has been enjoying a golden period of hit shows and multiple awards. Last year, BBC Television reached 92 per cent of the United Kingdom population making it the most successful United Kingdom network of Channels. He has a fantastic creative mind and much as I’m sad he’s leaving the BBC, I’m excited to see what he does next’. There he held roles such as head of youth-skewing channel E4 and head of documentaries.

In recent months, Cohen has also dealt with BBC Three’s polarising move online. He’s smart, dedicated and extremely kind to everyone on the team.

He has also undertaken creative leadership of the BBC iPlayer. Further, he’s had creative leadership of BBC iPlayer the BBC’s cinema production through BBC Films.

“Danny has done an extraordinary job over the last eight years at the BBC. It’s a very odd organisation when people who work for it can’t speak up on its behalf”.

The company is now funded by a licence fee of up to 145.50 pounds ($221) for every household in the United Kingdom that owns a television.