“I’ve commissioned something called The Great Sperm Race, which demonstrates the science of conception using thousands of extras shot from helicopters.

C4 science is distinctive in that it’s a breeding ground for completely new forms of television. For years the science output has been groundbreaking and controversial, from Jump London to Autopsy, The Human Footprint to Animal Farm. C4 science rarely feels like a school science lesson.

The environment is very hard – it often feels too worthy – but it’s something we should tackle more than we do, and I’d love to find a C4 way of doing it. I’d also like to find a way of doing medicine.”

David Glover: Commissioning Editor, Science, Channel 4

“Routes is our first ARG, or Alternate Reality Game. It’s ambitious, and we’re going to make something wonderful that captures the imagination of our audience, taking them on a huge treasure hunt via themes like medical ethics, junk science and genetics.

Our educational messages are often covert, and exist within wonderfully entertaining products that engage our audience in their spaces – social networks, games, on the web and on phones. What the British public think of education programming in relation to our public service responsibility is important, but the benefit that young people gain from our commissions is much more valuable. That should be how we measure our successes.”

Jo Roach: Commissioning Editor, Education, Channel 4

Next on 4 is Channel 4’s vision for the future. Fresh talent, fresh perspectives, youth, diversity and innovation in all its forms will lead and shape the channel’s content in the years to come. So with our readers in mind, we asked those at the commissioning coalface what’s pushing their buttons in 2008.

Who we spoke to:

Liam Humphreys, Commissioning Editor, Features | Walter Iuzzolino, Deputy Head, Features | Dominique Walker, Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment | Alistair Pegg, Editor, Factual Entertainment | Ruby Kuraishe, Editor, Factual Entertainment, E4 | Simon Dickson, Deputy Head, Documentaries | Meredith Chambers, Commissioning Editor, Documentaries | Kate Vogel, Editor, 3 Minute Wonder | Jan Younghusband, Commissioning Editor, Arts & Performance | Shane Allen, Commissioning Editor, Comedy | Andy Auerbach, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment | Matt Locke, Commissioning Editor, Education | Jo Roach, Commissioning Editor, Education | Kevin Sutcliffe, Deputy Head, News & Current Affairs | Camilla Campbell, Commissioning Editor, Drama | Adam Gee, Commissioning Editor, New Media Factual | Aaquil Ahmed, Commissioning Editor, Religion | David Glover, Commissioning Editor, Science | Katherine Butler, Head of Development, Film4 | Ade Rawcliffe, Diversity & Talent Manager | Alison Walsh, Editorial Manager, Disability.

Browse all the responses >

Image by Tom Gaul