ITV poaches BBC's Haynes for drama

ITV has poached Sally Haynes, the BBC's executive producer of drama series and serials, to be its new deputy controller of drama.

The appointment marks the second key drama figure to be snatched from the BBC in recent months: earlier this year Laura Mackie, the Corporation's head of drama series and serials, was brought in to work with Nick Elliott at the head of the department.

When Elliott retires next year, Mackie will become director of drama and Haynes will be promoted to controller of drama.

"Our task over the next eighteen months is to work together to build a platform for a superb era of ITV drama led by Laura and Sally," said Elliott. "It's going to be fun and then I'm going to enjoy sitting at home watching all the wonderful shows they will be commissioning."

Haynes's recent credits at the BBC include Canterbury Tales, Cutting It and Bleak House.