Aisling O'Connor

Commissioning Editor, Unscripted

BBC

Aisling O’Connor is a Commissioning Editor, Unscripted in the Content division of the BBC, based in London, UK. She has a brief to work across all of the Unscripted genres with a particular focus on the independent television sector outside London.

Previously Aisling was the Head of TV Commissioning for BBC England, with a brief to grow portrayal for local on network as part of the BBC’s ‘Across the UK’ commissioning strategy. She commissioned and ran a slate of factual programmes as well as running and re-launching inhouse local Current Affairs as the series We Are England for BBC One in 2022.

Aisling started her career in television 27 years ago at London Weekend Television and has worked at all levels of production. Career highlights to date include being a BBC Daytime Commissioning Editor, a BBC Music and Arts Commissioning Executive, an Executive Producer on flagship investigative current affairs programme Panorama and a Senior News and Current Affairs Adviser in BBC Editorial Policy.

While a Daytime Commissioning Editor Aisling looked after 17 series concurrently including Great British Menu, Wanted Down Under, Heir Hunters and Bargain Hunt. As Head of TV Commissioning for BBC England recent co-commissions include the series Brickies and Angels of the North for BBC Three, Commando: Britain’s Ocean Warrior, Villages By the Sea and Yorkshire Midwives On Call for BBC Two, Scarlett’s Driving School and Soldier for BBC One and Jazz UK: Spitting Fire for BBC Four.

Aisling was an Executive Producer for the BBC on the feature documentary Tish which opened Sheffield Documentary Festival in 2023. She is currently BBC Executive Producer on Twiggy - a feature documentary from director Sadie Frost which will deliver in 2024.

Aisling says the two highlights of her career to date were executive producing U2 Innocence and Experience Live in Paris for BBC Music and flying to Chile (economy) to make a speech about public service broadcasting to broadcasters from around the world.

Aisling is from Dublin, Ireland, has three daughters and lives in Hastings, UK.

Speaking at: Breakfast With...