The former head of the BBC Asian Programmes Unit has returned to the BBC after a few years outside the corporation.

Tommy Nagra was previously executive producer of the APU, based in Birmingham, before he left to join the independent production company Maverick Television three years ago.

He has now been appointed an executive producer in the BBC’s Religion & Ethics Department in Manchester.

Alongside his other duties, his new role will see him executive produce BBC One’s Songs Of Praise, one of television’s longest-running strands, as well as develop new titles and strands across the Religion and Ethics portfolio.

Michael Wakelin, Head of BBC Religion & Ethics, said: “His track record as a producer and executive producer is hugely impressive and I’m delighted to have secured his services.”

Tommy said : “I’ve tremendously enjoyed my time in the independent sector but the opportunity to lead a team on a blue chip mainstream BBC One brand like Songs Of Praise and contribute to bringing in new titles to Manchester was too tempting.”

In the last three years he executive produced documentaries including Dispatches for Channel 4, Director’s Debut for BBC One, Ghetto Britain for More 4 and the Oscar-nominated feature length documentary, Jesus Camp, broadcast on Channel 4 in 2008.

He also worked across a number of independent production companies including Crescent Films and CTVC as a freelance executive producer and has recently returned from a two-month stint in New York for a Channel 4 series on Islam in America post 9/11 in the run-up to the forthcoming US Presidential Elections.

Tommy also developed Channel 4’s Seven Wonders Of The Muslim World series as part of their 2008 Islam season and was developing a season of faith programmes for the channel.

Tommy Nagra began his television career at the BBC in 1993 before leaving to join the independent sector with Maverick Television as a Senior Executive Producer in 2005.

Prior to working in the independent sector he had a long and successful career at the BBC, beginning with the Multicultural Programmes Department in the Nineties.

He series produced and directed several international award-winning documentaries including The Sikhs, East, All Black, The Vibe, Network East, Café 21, Wedlocked, The Reel Mystery and Bindi Millionaires.

Tommy takes up his new post this week.