Jay Hunt Heads up BFI

Jay Hunt OBE is Creative Director for Apple TV+ in Europe and has been a Governor of the BFI since 2020. Before joining Apple, she was Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4, and is the only person to have run three terrestrial broadcast channels, having served as Controller of BBC One and Director of Programmes at Channel 5.

Her commissions include global hits Bad Sisters, Luther, Sherlock, Black Mirror, Derry Girls, Catastrophe and Gogglebox. She started her career at BBC News working on Newsnight and Panorama before becoming Editor of both the One O’Clock and Six O’Clock News. In 2023 she was named one of the Top 20 Most Powerful Women in Global Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter.

Jay Hunt said: “The BFI plays such a vital role in supporting great British storytellers and I’m delighted I’ll be chairing the organisation at such an exciting and challenging time. I’m passionate about the quality and range of film and TV we produce in the UK and look forward to championing it on the world stage.”

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “Film is at the heart of the UK’s thriving creative industries, and the BFI plays an important role maximising the potential of our world-leading screen sectors. Jay’s wealth of experience championing British content makes her an exceptional Chair to lead the BFI in the years ahead.”

Ben Roberts, BFI Chief Executive said: “I’m thrilled that Jay has been appointed Chair of the BFI. As a BFI Governor, Jay has been a passionate advocate for both the BFI and the UK film sector. With her incredible breadth of experience in leadership across broadcasting and global streaming, she steps into this role with a very rare combination of an innate understanding of the power and potential of what public service organisations can deliver as well as being acutely commercial.”