• Vivek Sharma named Executive Producer, News UK Broadcasting, responsible for talkTV’s output
• Ben Briscoe named Series Editor for global primetime Piers Morgan show to air weeknights in the UK, US and Australia

News UK Broadcasting today announces two senior appointments as it continues to build momentum towards the launch of talkTV early next year, and it’s flagship global Piers Morgan show. 

Vivek Sharma, former Deputy Editor of ITV’s This Morning and currently Series Editor of Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4 is named as Executive Producer, News UK Broadcasting, with responsibility for talkTV’s output.  

Meanwhile Ben Briscoe, currently Assistant Editor at Good Morning Britain, is named as Series Editor for the primetime global Piers Morgan show. The show will air weeknights on talkTV in the UK, on FOX Nation for US audiences, and on Sky News Australia and will be produced in London by News UK Broadcasting.

Vivek Sharma is a veteran of commercial news and current affairs shows. Prior to launching Steph’s Packed Lunch for Channel 4, he spent four years as Deputy Editor of This Morning on ITV. Across a 20 year career in commercial TV, Vivek has also worked across ITN, Sky News and Good Morning Britain. 

Vivek said: “News UK has a rich heritage of world-class journalism. The launch of talkTV next year will create an important new voice in news and current affairs, delivered across a network of linear and non-linear platforms, and I’m delighted to be joining the team”

During his six years as Assistant Editor of Good Morning Britain, Ben Briscoe has led the programme’s coverage of some of the biggest breaking news stories in the UK and beyond, including the Westminster terror attack, the Grenfell Tower fire, the Christchurch Mosque Shootings and the Las Vegas shootings. 

Ben said: “Piers Morgan is a unique talent in global broadcasting. It’s both a privilege and a delight to be working with him again on this hugely exciting new international show.”

Winnie Dunbar Nelson, News UK Broadcasting Executive Editor, said: “Piers has been clear that he only wants the best talent on his new global show. Signing Vivek and Ben into these two crucial roles absolutely delivers on that commitment.”

The announcements follow the appointment in September of Erron Gordon as Executive Creative Director and Head of Studio Output for News UK Broadcasting as it builds towards the launch of talkTV in early 2022.

The channel will be streamed live and made widely available on all platforms, including linear TV and OTT, with content available across social media as well as News UK’s own broad inventory of websites and apps. Everyone in the UK will be able to access the channel, live or on-demand, either on their television or on any personal device. 

Scott Taunton, CEO of News UK Broadcasting, said: “talkTV will inject a huge amount of energy into UK broadcasting next year, providing more choice for consumers hungry for a fresh new take on news and current affairs. We will continue to build out a team of top talent - on and off air - as we prepare for launch next year.”

talkTV will offer a mix of programming. There will be proper hourly news bulletins, sports and entertainment shows, as well as current affairs, debate, opinion and documentaries which call on the expertise of journalists and broadcasters from across News UK’s roster of brands, including talkRADIO, talkSPORT, Virgin Radio, Times Radio, The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times. 

News UK will continue to hire some exceptional new talent to join a schedule of prime time programming for the evenings.