Julie Gardner Drama role

The woman credited with Doctor Who’s amazing revival will be in charge of commissioning new peak-time Saturday night dramas for BBC1.
Julie Gardner, pictured with David Tennant, is leaving her role as Doctor Who’s executive producer three years after the Time Lord was resurrected by BBC Wales and Swansea writer Russell T Davies.
She will be replaced by Piers Wenger who takes over as executive producer for Doctor Who’s fifth series.
He will also become the new head of drama at BBC Wales when Ms Gardner leaves the role in January 2009.
Mr Wenger was the producer of the multi-award-winning Housewife, 49 with Victoria Wood and the Boxing Day drama Ballet Shoes, the adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s classic novel which featured Harry Potter star Emma Watson.
Ms Gardner will continue as executive producer of the fourth Doctor Who series and the Doctor Who specials to be broadcast during 2009. She will continue to executive produce Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures for BBC Wales.
In addition, she continues work on a number of independent dramas and will take responsibility for the development and commissioning of new Saturday evening drama for BBC1, as well as working with Controller of BBC Fiction Jane Tranter on a wide and diverse range of special projects.
BBC Wales Controller Menna Rich- ards said, “I’m delighted Piers is joining the BBC Wales team, and I’m confident he can build on Julie’s huge successes. Julie has helped transform drama production – not only at BBC Wales but across the BBC.”
Ms Gardner said, “I know that when I hand over my sonic screwdriver to Piers for season five of Doctor Who, it’ll be to someone who loves and understands the show. Doctor Who is the most precious TV drama in the galaxy and I’m leaving it in safe and brilliant hands.”