More4 launch chief quits Channel 4

More4 head Peter Dale is to leave Channel 4 after more than ten years.

Dale, who previously made documentaries for the BBC, plans to set up his own independent production company.

He joined Channel 4 as head of documentaries in 1998 and went on to lead the launch of More4 in 2005.

"Peter is responsible for steering More4 from an idea on paper to its current success," said Kevin Lygo, director of television and content. "He is one of the most respected figures within British documentary making and has also forged an admirable reputation as a supporter of hard-hitting, contemporary drama."

Dale's commissions for More4 have included high-end dramas such as A Very Social Secretary and Tony Blair On Trial. In recent years, however, a cut in the channel's budget has moved the focus to documentaries.