Channel 4 has unveiled the former BBC World Service journalist Marc Perkins as its new senior commissioning editor in the news and current affairs department.
Perkins, who will join in March after over two decades in a variety of journalism roles at the BBC, will help shape the editorial and operational direction of C4’s output in the genre, with a particular focus on commissioning foreign investigations and long-form films, including for Unreported World.
He takes over from Nevine Mabro, who recently left in the opposite direction to head up the BBC’s documentary strand Storyville after a near-five year stint at C4.
During his near-25 years at the BBC, Perkins most recently served as editor of investigations for BBC World Service, where he commissioned investigative docs for Europe and Asia and oversaw teams working in China and Russia.
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Prior to that, he has also headed investigations for BBC Eye, launched and ran BBC Africa Eye, and managed documentary acquisition and commissioning as documentaries editor for BBC Arabic.
Before joining the BBC a full-time basis with his BBC Arabic role in 2011, Perkins had freelanced for the broadcaster for several years, including spending six months reporting from Baghdad during the Iraq War.
C4 head of news and current affairs and specialist factual and sport Louisa Compton, like Perkins a former BBC staffer, said: “2026 is a crucial time for foreign journalism and investigations and Marc’s exceptional track record will ensure Channel 4 continues to explain the new world order and hold power to account with investigations from some of the most challenging parts of the world.”
Perkins described C4 as “the home of brave and ambitious current affairs.” He added: “I look forward to continuing its fine tradition of commissioning exemplary foreign documentaries like For Sama, the acclaimed Unreported World strand and ground-breaking investigations such as Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.
“I’m also excited to collaborate with the inspiring talent across the UK’s independent production sector to develop new world-class programming for Channel 4.”
