Alex Gardiner
Rare TV, the independent documentary, factual and formats producer, has announced that Alexander Gardiner is stepping down as CEO to prioritise his health and family. The award-winning executive producer and CEO will remain connected to Rare TV as non-executive chair, taking over the role from current chair Graham Coxell, who will retain a seat on the board.
Gardiner joined Rare TV in 2019 from Channel 4, where he served as consultant commissioning editor. Prior to this, he was managing director of ITV Studios-owned indie Shiver (now MultiStory Media), which he helped to transform into a creative powerhouse with production hubs in London, Leeds and Manchester. Gardiner also served as creative director for the Factual North arm of ITV Studios.
Over the course of a career that has ranged from award-winning documentary to ratings-busting entertainment, Gardiner has won two BAFTAs, five Royal Television Society Awards and a Peabody Award. His numerous credits include co-executive producing the first series of reality juggernaut I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, spearheading the first-ever UK political party Leaders’ Debate in 2010, launching ITV’s flagship political show Peston on Sunday in 2016 and overseeing the seismic Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile, which sparked a major police investigation and plunged the BBC into turmoil.
Meanwhile, Alexander Gardiner gave a brief overview of his career: “My career so far has been a rollercoaster ride, working with great people in exciting locations on fascinating projects. I can't think of anything that offers the rich variety that working in television provides. It's been a tough decision to step down as CEO of Rare TV but I leave behind a great team and an industry facing multiple challenges. While I remain optimistic about the future, I do worry about the fragile economy for freelancers. When hugely talented and experienced producers and directors are reduced to working as Ocado delivery drivers, how can we hope to attract the brightest and the best into television?," stated.
Graham Coxell, current non-executive chair of Rare TV, praised his colleague: “Under Alex’s leadership, Rare is a company transformed at every level, whether it’s through our culture, where we all feel valued and treated with respect, our growth having doubled in size, or to the quality and quantity of what we produce - our slate and order book are greater than ever. His health and happiness are the priority of course but the fact that he has agreed to stay on as our Chair, with a new CEO incoming whilst I take on the role of Investor Non-Executive Director - this way we have the best of all worlds," commented.
Rare TV will appoint a new CEO early in 2025. Gardiner’s successor will inherit a company in robust health with a diverse and growing slate of intelligent, entertaining factual content. In the last year, it has expanded its successful Airport franchise to include Extreme Airport Africa, an eight-part series that takes viewers behind the scenes at Southern Africa’s two biggest international airports. It is now in production on a second season of the Smithsonian Channel series. Other recent highlights include Futureville Ireland for RTE, Expert Witness for BBC One and Digging for Britain, fronted by Dr Alice Roberts, for BBC Two, which this week delivers it 12th season.
Under Gardiner’s tenure, Rare TV has also recruited creative heavyweights, including Fernando de Jesus, the company’s creative director; writer, story consultant and executive producer Greg Chivers, who was appointed to the newly created role of US showrunner; and development producer Abigail Keyes, who joined the Belfast-based team, reflecting Rare TV’s commitment to growing its presence in Northern Ireland.
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