The BBC’s head of Religion and Ethics will part ways with the Corporation this summer after five years in the role.

|TOP|Alan Bookbinder, whose credits include Comrades, Brain Story and Bafta-winning The Human Body, has been at the BBC for the past 25 years, but said he was now "keen to turn my skills and energies in new directions."

In 2001, there was controversy surrounding Bookbinder’s appointment, with critics claiming that he had no religious faith. As the first non-cleric to be promoted to the post, Mr Bookbinder describes himself as an open-hearted agnostic.

Despite the initial scepticism from some quarters, the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, said that he had made progress in the Corporation’s broadcasting of religion. “Alan has gone about his task with an admirable quiet determination over the last five years and he has listened to the views of the faith communities patiently and carefully.” Bishop McCulloch expressed gratitude to Mr Bookbinder for “his genuine concern for religious broadcasting,” although he said that the BBC could make further improvements to adequately reflect the role of religion in the lives of the majority of the population.

Controller of Factual Production, Keith Scholey said: “As religion marched up the political agenda, Alan has brought outstanding leadership to the Religion & Ethics Department during an unusually challenging and sensitive time.

“Religious broadcasting has now secured its place at the heart of the BBC schedules with a wide range of stimulating, thought-provoking and entertaining documentaries, series and features.” In particular, the St Paul and Noah’s Ark series are cited as examples of his success in delivering religious broadcasting to a wider audience.

|AD|Mr Bookbinder commented: “After 25 richly stimulating years in the BBC — the last five of which have been full of enjoyable and memorable times in charge of religious output — I’m keen to turn my skills and energies in new directions.”

The BBC is now seeking a new head of religion and ethics programming.

In other news, Aled Glynne Davies, the Editor of the Welsh language service BBC Radio Cymru, has announced that he is to step down later this year after more than a decade in the role.

Having taken over the reins at Radio Cymru in 1995, he had relaunched the station soon afterwards, introducing major changes aimed at attracting a broader audience.

A third of all fluent Welsh speakers now listen to the station every week.

Aled Glynne said: "As the national radio station in the Welsh language, Radio Cymru has to provide a full service to all kinds of Welsh speakers.

"There must be programmes across all genres, for all age groups, which appeal to people in all parts of Wales.

"It was a complicated task but the challenge has been very fulfilling."