Category: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½; Factual & Arts TV
Date: 30.06.2006
Printable version
Michael Wakelin has been appointed as the new Head of Religion & Ethics for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.
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Michael, 45, is currently Acting Head of Development for the Religion & Ethics Department and has been Series Producer of Songs of Praise for the last five years.
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Keith Scholey, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Controller of Factual Production, says: "Michael has a huge amount of knowledge and passion for the subject which, as Head of Religion & Ethics, will make him a fantastic advocate, not only for the religion production base but also for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ as a whole.
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"He also has a range of experience across both radio, TV and new media which is extremely important when looking into the future of the new multi-media age."
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Michael joined the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in 1986 as a researcher for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4 series The Good Book with Brian Redhead and went on to work on a variety of programmes across all radio networks.
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His radio credits include Talk of the Devil, Sanctified Dance and the Sony Award-winning The Dream for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 1.
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He pioneered gospel music on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 2, launching series with Gloria Gaynor, Deniece Williams and, most recently, Beverley Knight.
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He has also worked on a range of multi-faith programmes and established Radio 2's acclaimed Faith in the World Week - now in its 15th year.
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Before becoming Series Producer for Songs of Praise, Michael worked as a producer and director on the programme for five years.
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He also series produced and directed ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TWO's Cathedral Calls with Janet Street-Porter and was Co-Series Producer of the ground-breaking ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ONE series Son of God.
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Michael spent his early childhood in Sierra Leone and Kenya before moving to Norfolk.
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He attended Kingswood School in Bath and studied Theology at Birmingham University before working as a teacher - and occasional TV comedy actor - in South Korea.
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Before joining the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ he attended the National Broadcasting School where he won the Directors Prize.
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He has written a biography of the Methodist movie mogul J Arthur Rank.
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Michael now lives in South Manchester with his wife and two children and is a Methodist lay preacher in the Macclesfield Circuit.
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He says: "I'm very proud to be taking on this prestigious role.
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"I've worked in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Religious Department for over 20 years and am passionate about the range and depth of its output.
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"I'm committed to taking the department forward as a key part of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s future and its Manchester base."
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Notes to Editors
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The Religion & Ethics Studio is part of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Factual & Learning Division (F&L).
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As well as Interactive and Learning departments, F&L comprises nine multi-platform studios: Science & History; Documentaries & Specialist Features; Arts; Features & Formats; Events; National History; Features & Documentaries - Bristol; Features & Documentaries - Birmingham; and Religion & Ethics - Manchester.
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The skilled staff are a source of unique knowledge, talent and expertise, creating some of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s most distinctive output.
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CR/CD2
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