NIGEL PICKARD
Director of Family Entertainment, RDF Media

Nigel has worked in children’s television since 1986 developing and producing a wide range of programmes before becoming Controller of Children’s and Family at TVS. 

In 1998, he moved to ITV to be Controller of Children’s and Youth Programmes, responsible for the commissioning and scheduling of all ITV children’s output.  During this period he broke the BBC’s dominance of Saturday morning TV for the first time in 12 years with Ant and Dec’s SMTV.   This achievement did not go unnoticed by the BBC – so that in 2000 he was appointed Controller of CBBC overseeing the launch of two new channels, CBBC and CBeebies.  In 2002, however, Nigel was invited back to ITV as Director of Programmes, responsible for the scheduling and commissioning of the entire ITV output. 

After 3 successful years, he joined RDF in his current role of Director of Family Entertainment. RDF Kids includes The Foundation which Nigel Chairs and has various programmes in production including Mister Maker, Waybuloo, Escape From Scorpion Island, Dani’s House and Yo Gabba Gabba. RDF Kids also distributes and manages licensing and merchandising.