Lorraine Heggessey is a pioneering business leader with a proven track record of success across the public, private, and third sectors.
As the first female controller of BBC 1, Lorraine made a lasting impact by transforming the channel. Under her leadership, BBC 1 became the most popular channel in Britain, surpassing ITV1 for the first time. With a £1 billion budget, she revamped Saturday night programming, introducing iconic shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Doctor Who. Additionally, she brought successful dramas like Spooks and Waking the Dead, many of which became long-running series.
Lorraine then took on the role of CEO at Talkback Thames. Her creative leadership inspired talent and drove commercial success. She revitalized the programming portfolio and launched a new digital division. As a result, hit shows like Britain’s Got Talent and Take Me Out helped increase profits by 50% within her first two years.
In 2012, Lorraine sought a new challenge. She secured private equity investment to build an independent production group, combining acquisitions with backing for start-ups. As Executive Chair, she led Boom Pictures through multiple deals, making it the seventh-largest independent production company in Britain. ITV acquired the company in 2015, renaming it Two Four Group.
More recently, Lorraine served as CEO of The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She helped professionalize and expand the Foundation, focusing on key initiatives such as Heads Together for mental health and support for wounded veterans.
Throughout her career, Lorraine has sparked controversy. She is known for making bold decisions, including sacking Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon for drug use, confronting reporter Roger Cook for a Channel 4 documentary, and securing the first-ever interview with notorious villain Mad Frankie Fraser for a series on Britain’s crime history.
