Janice Hadlow to exit BBC after nearly 30 years

Broadcast can reveal that Hadlow has taken redundancy as controller of special projects and seasons – the specially created post she has held since March 2014. The role will now be closed.

She has had a distinguished career at the BBC, but sources have questioned the level of her output since she was moved sideways into her £235,050 a-year job. BBC insiders have also claimed that Hadlow spends a reasonable amount of time working at home in Bath.

Her main project has been Civilisations, the corporation’s ambitious remake of Kenneth Clark’s 1969 series exploring the history of art from the dawn of human history. She has an executive producer credit on the Nutopia-produced series, which is expected to air in late 2017.

It is not yet known if Hadlow will seek another role in television. She is a published author, penning A Royal Experiment: The Private Lives of King George III in 2014, and last year she spoke at history and literary festivals.

Her departure is the latest exit in a seismic week for the industry. Although no longer as influential as ITV director of television Peter Fincham and BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw, both of whom are stepping down this month, she is a prominent figure who enjoyed success during her five-year spell as the boss of BBC2.

She was credited for rejuvenating drama on the channel with hits including The Fall and Line Of Duty, and originally commissioned The Great British Bake Off, now the biggest show on UK television.

Hadlow joined the corporation in 1987 as a Radio 4 producer and remained there for the next three decades, apart from a brief stint at Channel 4 as head of specialist factual. She was controller of BBC4 between 2004 and 2008.

The BBC confirmed her departure soon after Broadcast revealed the news and acting director of television Mark Linsey praised her service to the corporation. “She leaves with our best wishes,” he said.

Hadlow added: “I have had a wonderful career at the BBC, where I have been lucky enough to work with very talented people on a host of exciting programmes. I was pleased to be able to see my final project, Civilisations, through a period of development to the point where it is about to begin filming.

“It is always hard to say goodbye, but this feels the right moment for me to take my leave. I wish it, and all the colleagues with whom I have so enjoyed working, the very best of luck for the future.”