New chief to brighten up 'miserable' BBC1

The new boss of BBC1 has privately branded the channel "miserable and depressive" - and has vowed to brighten up its schedules.

Former independent producer Peter Fincham, who took over as controller last week, is reported to have told colleagues he is worried too many programmes share the same glum look.

Ailing soap EastEnders - recently under attack for its maudlin storylines - is believed to be high on his list of priorities.

Mr Fincham has yet to publicly

outline his detailed plans. He is not expected to unveil his full strategy until the Edinburgh International Television Festival in August and BBC sources say it will take at least until autumn for him to make his mark on the schedules.

But one insider said: "Peter thinks the channel feels miserable and depressive. Lots of programmes look the same as each other. He wants to lighten it up. He feels BBC1 is undistinctive." Mr Fincham would rather "aim high and fail than play safe and succeed", the insider added.

The 48-year-old former chief executive of leading indie Talkback Thames has presided over a string of hit comedies - including Alan Partridge, Brass Eye, Smack The Pony and Da Ali G Show.

On his appointment in March, he hinted at a possible shake-up for EastEnders - potentially including a new time slot. He said the soap was "an absolutely crucial part of the BBC1 schedule and will continue to be", but added: "Of course we've got to find the right place in the schedule for it. We live in a moving world where all schedules move".

He vowed to bring in more original dramas, comedies and bigname talent to the channel.

"My background originally is in comedy and I think it's terribly important for major channels to have their tent-pole comedy shows," he said.

New EastEnders executive producer Kate Harwood, meanwhile, said she did not plan to compete with rival soap Coronation Street by signing up big-name stars for short runs. The ITV1 soap currently features Sir Ian McKellen as a bodice-ripping novelist, and in recent years Maureen Lipman and Peter Kay have also appeared.

Instead, Ms Harwood said she hopes to improve the BBC soap's ratings by focusing on strong, character-led storylines.

"I don't think [signing big name stars] is the route we want to go down. EastEnders and Coronation Street are very different animals. I want to keep true to what East-Enders is, at its core, not mimic something else." She said workshops were currently under way to cast a new family for the soap.