Black-owned audio production company Unedited has appointed two new senior executives to join the team before the launch of its Pilot Season, a showcase of its new audio formats which includes five new original shows.
Former BBC head of documentary commissioning and Black Ruby Pictures managing director, Maxine Watson, will join Unedited in March as a creative executive with her role focusing on pushing original documentaries and formats within the company. Her previous experience is mostly in video production, having most recently worked as executive producer for the upcoming Netflix series African Queens.
“I have known the guys at Unedited for some time now so I can say with certainty that they are best in class,” said Watson. “They are also perfectly placed to take advantage of the boom in interest in audio, not only as a creative force in its own right, but as an incubator of standout ideas for the screen and stage. It’s a very exciting time for the company and I look forward to the creative and commercial opportunities that lie ahead."
With nearly 30 years of experience, veteran producer Pat Younge will also join the board of Unedited, with his role focusing on supporting the company in creating its own IP and connecting them to his network of industry leaders. Younge is the co-founder of award-winning independent production companies Sugar Films and Cardiff Productions, as well the former chief creative officer at the BBC.
“Unedited is a trailblazing podcast company that’s black-owned and black-led with a reputation for top quality, award-winning work,” said Younge. “I’m backing their shift into original podcasts and formats because, despite all the diversity initiatives, we need a much bigger shift in the stories being told and the people empowered to tell them. This is a great way to achieve that."
The appointments follow the announcement of Unedited’s Pilot Season showcase launching on 13 March with five new original shows demonstrating the company’s audio formats. This comes after Unedited’s recent success and positive reception of its educational podcast Sounds of Black Britain as well as BBC Sounds’ music television show and podcast 1Xtra’s Throwback Party with Joelah & Keke.
New shows that will be released as part of the showcase include analysis podcast Facts That Matter with journalist and professor Gary Younge, an interview-format show with DJs titled The Last Set, Sneakeristswith Joelah Noblee and Ade Oladipo exploring the “prized sport shoe collections” of the guests, In The Values Compass which is an adaptation of the best-selling book by the same name with author Mandeep Rai, and friendship podcast Best Summer Ever.
“Our creative ambitions span all genres [and] formats - a hot-bed of IP development across the broadcast industry,” said Unedited founder Bernanrd Achampong. “Our shift to originals is also about creating space for new voices and ideas and we have the creative crossover between audio and television very much in our sights.
“The launch of Pilot Season demonstrates our commitment - both financially and creatively - in this area.”
