Stuart Murphy

Stuart Murphy joined Sky as Director of Programmes, Sky1 HD, 2 and 3 in May 2009.

His strategy of Fewer Bigger Better focused on commissioning less shows but doing so at higher prices. This led to a reduction in shows commissioned or bought by Sky by two thirds, with a concurrent increase in ratings within the first 12 months of 37% in peak.

He was made Director of Commissioning in Sept 2010. His team is now Lucy Lumsden as Head of Comedy (ex Head of Comedy, BBC), Celia Taylor as Head of Factual (ex Channel Controller, Virgin 1 and Bravo), Anne Mensah as Head of Drama (ex Head of Drama, BBC Scotland) and Phil Edgar-Jones as Head of Entertainment (ex Creative Director, Endemol).

Sky 1 hits include Got To Dance (sold to 8 territories including CBS), An Idiot Abroad (now in 37 territories and the third highest rating show on Sky 1 in 20 years), A League Of Their Own, Stella (the highest rating comedy in Pay TV ever), Mad Dogs, Trollied, Moone Boy and Modern Family. BAFTA nominations include Pineapple Dance Studios, Mad Dogs and An Idiot Abroad; Spy won Sky’s first British Comedy Award; Moone Boy won 3 IFTA’s; and Strike Back , An Idiot Abroad and Treasure Island were the first Sky originations to be nominated for Emmy’s. In 2011 Sky 1 won Channel of the Year for the first time ever, beating all terrestrials.

In February 2011, Murphy launched Sky Atlantic, the result of a deal between Sky and HBO, commissioning multi award winning Hunderby ,Paul Abbott drama Hit + Miss starring Chloe Sevigny and Steve Coogan’s Places Of My Life. Hunderby went on to win 2 British Comedy Awards and was BAFTA nominated.

In April 2012, Stuart Murphy was appointed Director, Entertainment Channels, overseeing all entertainment commissioning and Sky1, Sky Living, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts, Challenge and Pick TV. Doll and Em became the first Sky show ever to be sold to HBO.

Murphy was previously Creative Director at Twofour; Creative Director at RDF and the first Controller of BBC Three, commissioning Little Britain, Gavin and Stacey, Torchwood as well as 34 comedies. BBC 3 won both Broadcast and MGEITF Channel of the Year. He joined the BBC on The Sunday Show and Great Railway Journeys, before which he ran UK Play and BBC Choice.

Murphy started his career in television from Clare College, Cambridge as a tea boy on Reportage before roles at the BBC, MTV and Channel 4's Big Breakfast. He has two kids, loves theme parks and boxing.