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Keshet UK appoints David Williams as creative director non scripted
MUMBAI: Keshet UK has appointed David Williams in the newly created role of non-scripted Creative Director. Williams joins the company in July 2016 from BBC Entertainment North where he also held the role of Creative Director for four years.
Leading the existing team, Williams will build on Keshet’s presence in the non-scripted genre. In his former role Williams lead the development of a range of new Entertainment and Factual Entertainment programmes across all BBC channels such as Call the Council and Junior Paramedics, as well as overseeing a number of returning series including the long-running Dragons’ Den. Before joining BBC Production, Williams was a Commissioning Editor in Entertainment at Channel 4 where he commissioned Made In Chelsea among other successful series. A founding member of the team on Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother, he was later responsible for the entire franchise on behalf of Channel 4.
Keshet UK managing director Sammy Nourmand said, “I have followed David’s career for a long time and am delighted to have prized him away from the BBC. His arrival further demonstrates Keshet’s ongoing willingness to invest in the UK and work with the best British talent.”
Williams said, “It’s been a privilege to get my BBC badge of honour with the brilliant people of Entertainment North but the opportunity to return to my commercial roots with Keshet was too tempting to turn down. With big plans and creativity at their heart they feel like a fantastic fit and I can’t wait to get cracking.”
The non scripted team at Keshet UK developed and produced the workplace dating show When Do You Get Off? for ITVBe in 2015. Other recent Keshet UK commissions include the co-productions, The A Word season two with Fifty Fathoms for BBC One and the Keshet International comedy drama Loaded (8 x 45’) for Channel 4 with Hillbilly Television.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
