Jane Lush
Encyclopedia
Jane Lush left the British Broadcasting Corporation in 2006, after a career spanning over 35 years. Having started at the age of 18 as a trainee secretary, she worked her way up the company, with jobs including heading the BBC's daytime department and later becoming the Entertainment commissioner for the BBC, giving her control of all the BBC's comedy, format and factual entertainment output.
She has never been far from controversy in her time at the BBC, having been at the centre of the infamous row over fake guests on the Vannessa Show and later oversaw the firing of Angus Deayton
as host of Have I Got News For You. She was also a close personal friend of murdered television presenter Jill Dando
. In 2008 former BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky
told how she felt Lush and her junior managers had intimidated her into participating in the BBC's high profile Strictly Come Dancing entertainment programme in 2003. After 6 months of refusing to participate, the matter was escalated to the BBC One Controller, Lorraine Heggessey
and when that approach failed, Lush, Head of Entertainment took Kaplinsky aside and told her "I'm sure you're not going to be penalised for not doing it".
As Controller of Daytime, Lush led the transformation of BBC Daytime from the poor relation of television with commissions including "Weakest Link", "Doctors" and "Bargain Hunt", making BBC One and BBC Two the market leaders. She gave Jill Dando and Kirsty Young
their big breaks, cast Anne Robinson
in the Weakest Link
and brought Graham Norton
to the BBC.
Lush was responsible for many of the BBC's hit entertainment shows when she became the head of the department in 2002 including The Apprentice, Dragons Den, "Fame Academy", "Comic Relief Does Fame Academy", "Test the Nation", "Strictly Dance Fever", "Just The Two of Us" and "Strictly Come Dancing". She has also been responsible for overseeing the BBC's Comedy output including a role with "Have I Got News for You" since its start.
Lush left the BBC in 2007 to start up the independent production company, Splash Media, its first output being The Underdog Show
.
She also still shares links with the BBC, chairing the Fame Academy Bursary with trustees including Sir Paul McCartney
.
She has never been far from controversy in her time at the BBC, having been at the centre of the infamous row over fake guests on the Vannessa Show and later oversaw the firing of Angus Deayton
Angus Deayton
Gordon Angus Deayton is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian and broadcaster. He is best known for his role as Victor Meldrew's long-suffering neighbour Patrick Trench in the comedy series One Foot in the Grave...
as host of Have I Got News For You. She was also a close personal friend of murdered television presenter Jill Dando
Jill Dando
Jill Wendy Dando was an English journalist, television presenter and newsreader who worked for the BBC for 14 years. She was murdered by gunshot outside her home in Fulham, West London; her killer has never been identified....
. In 2008 former BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky
Natasha Kaplinsky
Natasha Margaret Kaplinsky is a British newsreader and television presenter, currently employed by ITV having previously worked for Channel 5, Sky News and the BBC...
told how she felt Lush and her junior managers had intimidated her into participating in the BBC's high profile Strictly Come Dancing entertainment programme in 2003. After 6 months of refusing to participate, the matter was escalated to the BBC One Controller, Lorraine Heggessey
Lorraine Heggessey
Lorraine Heggessey is a British television producer and former Chief Executive of the production company Talkback Thames...
and when that approach failed, Lush, Head of Entertainment took Kaplinsky aside and told her "I'm sure you're not going to be penalised for not doing it".
As Controller of Daytime, Lush led the transformation of BBC Daytime from the poor relation of television with commissions including "Weakest Link", "Doctors" and "Bargain Hunt", making BBC One and BBC Two the market leaders. She gave Jill Dando and Kirsty Young
Kirsty Young
Kirsty Jackson Young is a Scottish television presenter and radio presenter. She is the main presenter of Crimewatch and Desert Island Discs. She is married to millionaire club owner Nick Jones.- Career :...
their big breaks, cast Anne Robinson
Anne Robinson
Anne Josephine Robinson is an English journalist and television presenter, known for her assertive views and acerbic style of presenting. She was one of the presenters on the long-running British consumer affairs series, Watchdog, from 1993 to 2001 before returning in 2009...
in the Weakest Link
Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a British television quiz show, currently broadcast on BBC Two. It was devised by Mr Wilton and Euan Green and Cathy Dunning, and developed for television by the BBC Entertainment Department. It has since been replicated around the world. The UK version is hosted by Anne...
and brought Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
to the BBC.
Lush was responsible for many of the BBC's hit entertainment shows when she became the head of the department in 2002 including The Apprentice, Dragons Den, "Fame Academy", "Comic Relief Does Fame Academy", "Test the Nation", "Strictly Dance Fever", "Just The Two of Us" and "Strictly Come Dancing". She has also been responsible for overseeing the BBC's Comedy output including a role with "Have I Got News for You" since its start.
Lush left the BBC in 2007 to start up the independent production company, Splash Media, its first output being The Underdog Show
The Underdog Show
The Underdog Show was a six week television series presented by Julian Clary and his dog, Valerie. The series was produced by the independent production company Splash Media.-Format:...
.
She also still shares links with the BBC, chairing the Fame Academy Bursary with trustees including Sir Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
.