Jay Hunt named BBC One controller

Jay Hunt is to quit as director of programmes at Five to become the new controller of BBC One.

The former controller of BBC daytime had only just taken up her position at Five in September.

It is understood that she was approached for the role and had not applied for it.

> Click here for the reaction of Five managing director of content Lisa Opie

"Controller of BBC One has always been my dream job," Hunt said this morning. "Ultimately, I could not resist the opportunity to take on such a creatively exciting role. I am thrilled to be part of the channel's future.

"It has been an incredibly difficult decision to leave my talented team at Five but I could not turn down the best job in television."

BBC director of vision Jana Bennett said: "I am really pleased to welcome Jay back to the BBC to take up the reins of the UK's most popular channel and the BBC's flagship channel.

"She has impeccable credentials as a commissioner, channel leader and journalist and has a deep commitment to the BBC's mission to bring the best programmes to the widest audience.

"I am sure she will be greeted with huge enthusiasm by programme makers inside and outside the BBC, BBC Vision and the BBC One team."

Hunt first joined the BBC in 1989 as a Breakfast News researcher and became output editor before joining Newsnight. In 1998 she joined Panorama and went on to edit BBC One's 1pm and 6pm news bulletins. In 2002 she became the BBC's Birmingham-based executive producer for daytime and the following year became commissioning executive for daytime. In 2005 she was appointed controller of daytime.