Alison Sharman

Alison Sharman (born in Manchester[1]) is an Executive and Communications Coach.

Described by Broadcast magazine as "rocket-fuelled with enthusiasm" and a "force of nature", Sharman is one of the most broadly experienced executives in her field, having worked previously on many of the UK's best known television programmes at both junior and senior grades and having previously been Controller of BBC Daytime and Controller of BBC Children's.

Sharman began her broadcasting career as a production secretary on the BBC consumer television programme Watchdog and, after a variety of assignments on various features output including series producer on the flagship BBC1 Holiday programme, she became Editor of Development, BBC Daytime.

Sharman helped turn around the decline of BBC Daytime and began its journey to market leader. She commissioned many enduring popular programmes including MasterChef, Bargain Hunt, Homes Under the Hammer, Eggheads, Saturday Kitchen, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and The Weakest Link.

In 2002 Sharman became the Controller of BBC Daytime, managing the output of BBC1 and BBC2 across the day. In 2005 she was appointed Controller, BBC Children's, one of the most important positions in children's television in the world, given its 100 million commissioning power.

Shortly after becoming Controller of CBBC, Sharman made clear her belief—given that the TV license fee is universal—in the need to reach out and connect with all sections of society. "Above all," she said, "we must always keep a respectful focus upon two of the core needs of children: first, the need to understand and express something of their deep inner world. And secondly, the need to understand their place in—and relationship to—the outer world, from their immediate family to the wider society."[2]

As a mother of young children at the time, Sharman felt compelled to provide the audience with nourishing and respectful content. She brought Jackanory back to the screen after a 12-year slumber and commissioned the children's docudrama That Summer Day. Other successful programming under her included Horrible Histories, The Sarah Jane Adventures and In the Night Garden..., making CBBC the heart of British children's television and the recipient of many top domestic and international awards and nominations.

In addition, Sharman was the Advisory Chair of the Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival in 2006.

Sharman became ITV’s Director of Factual and Daytime in 2006.[3] Here, she led the transformation of the daytime schedule and restored ITV's factual reputation by attracting some of the best filmmakers and producers in the UK to the channel. Sharman commissioned a range of award-winning content, fronted by well-known personalities such as Billy Connolly and Joanna Lumley, brought to the channel popular formats such as For the Love of Dogs and Long Lost Family as well as the landmark documentaries 9/11: The Day That Changed the World, Strangeways and Our Queen. Furthermore she began the Trevor McDonald hard-hitting documentary franchise with Inside Death Row with Trevor McDonald.[4] Her ITV daytime credits include The Chase, Tipping Point and Dickinson’s Real Deal.

In 2007 Sharman was considered a candidate for the next Controller of BBC1. She ruled herself out.[5]

Sharman was the Head of Commissioning for the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), based in Sydney, Australia from 2013 to 2016.[6] During this time Sharman commissioned a range of scripted and non-scripted content including Logie winning drama The Principal, comedy drama The Family Law, drama documentary Deep Water, documentary series First Contact and a range of food related content including Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook: Melbourne and Made in Italy with Silvia Colloca. Sharman's passion for food ensured she was included in the Sydney Morning Herald Kitchen Spy feature.[7]

Sharman returned to the UK in 2016. Sharman began to consult for Thoroughly Modern Media the independent that produced Heston's Dinner in Space and Inside Heston’s World for SBS Australia. On her appointment, Sharman said "I am privileged to have been a commissioner for the BBC, ITV and SBS Australia, and for some time now I’ve been wanting to try something new and exciting in a more hands on creative role."[8]

Sharman continues to work freelance as an Executive and Communications Coach.