Exclusive: The race to replace Ralph Lee at the helm of BBC Studios Productions is underway, with the studio signaling its ambition by approaching some of the UK’s top unscripted executives.
Lee will step down as the CEO of BBC Studios Productions next month after a six-year stint to “pursue a new challenge” but Deadline is told that headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates is already scoping out successors.
The successful candidate will run a production unit that contributed heavily to BBC Studios’ £1.6B ($2B) content revenue last year, overseeing hits including Good Omens, Strictly Come Dancing, and David Attenborough’s natural history tentpoles.
Deadline understands that Russell Reynolds has held tentative early conversations with potential candidates including Stv Studios managing director David Mortimer, ITV Studios unscripted director Angela Jain and Karl Warner, Channel 4’s outgoing head of youth and digital.
Fatima Salaria, who previously ran The Apprentice producer Naked,...
Lee will step down as the CEO of BBC Studios Productions next month after a six-year stint to “pursue a new challenge” but Deadline is told that headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates is already scoping out successors.
The successful candidate will run a production unit that contributed heavily to BBC Studios’ £1.6B ($2B) content revenue last year, overseeing hits including Good Omens, Strictly Come Dancing, and David Attenborough’s natural history tentpoles.
Deadline understands that Russell Reynolds has held tentative early conversations with potential candidates including Stv Studios managing director David Mortimer, ITV Studios unscripted director Angela Jain and Karl Warner, Channel 4’s outgoing head of youth and digital.
Fatima Salaria, who previously ran The Apprentice producer Naked,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Max Goldbart and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Am I Being Unreasonable?’ Producer’s Development Boss Joins Sky
The Head of Development at Am I Being Unreasonable? producer Boffola Pictures is joining Sky Studios next month. Emily Allen will become Commissioning Executive for Comedy within Alex Moody’s Sky Studios comedy commissioning team and will have responsibility for ordering Sky original comedies from indies. She will join from Boffola Pictures, the indie run by former BBC comedy heads Shane Allen and Kate Daughton that produces BAFTA-winning Daisy May Cooper show Am I Being Unreasonable?. Prior to Boffola, she worked in the BBC comedy team. Sky original comedies launching in 2024 include Mr Bigstuff, which stars Danny Dyer, and comedy-drama Small Town, Big Story, written and directed by Chris O’Dowd, and starring Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine. Brassic will also return for a sixth season. The news comes a few days after Sky Studios slimmed down its structure by unifying...
The Head of Development at Am I Being Unreasonable? producer Boffola Pictures is joining Sky Studios next month. Emily Allen will become Commissioning Executive for Comedy within Alex Moody’s Sky Studios comedy commissioning team and will have responsibility for ordering Sky original comedies from indies. She will join from Boffola Pictures, the indie run by former BBC comedy heads Shane Allen and Kate Daughton that produces BAFTA-winning Daisy May Cooper show Am I Being Unreasonable?. Prior to Boffola, she worked in the BBC comedy team. Sky original comedies launching in 2024 include Mr Bigstuff, which stars Danny Dyer, and comedy-drama Small Town, Big Story, written and directed by Chris O’Dowd, and starring Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine. Brassic will also return for a sixth season. The news comes a few days after Sky Studios slimmed down its structure by unifying...
- 2/12/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
International television festival Series Mania unveiled its 2024 lineup Wednesday, with an impressive slate of world premieres that will grace the screens of Lille, France for the event running March 19-21.
Peacock’s Australia-set family drama Apples Never Fall, featuring Nyad Oscar nominee Annette Bening and Jurassic Park veteran Sam Neill as a dysfunctional couple, will screen in competition at year’s fest, as will MGM+’s Hotel Cocaine, from Narcos showrunner Chris Brancato, a crime thriller featuring The Shield star Michael Chiklis and set in the booming cocaine scene in Miami in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
So Long Marianne, a Canadian-Norwegian co-production from Crave and Norway’s Nrk, will also get its first screening in Lille. The series stars Oppenheimer supporting actor Alex Wolff as legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen in a story of his turbulent relationship with Norwegian writer Marianne Ihlen (played by The Last Kingdom‘s Thea Sofie Loch Næss...
Peacock’s Australia-set family drama Apples Never Fall, featuring Nyad Oscar nominee Annette Bening and Jurassic Park veteran Sam Neill as a dysfunctional couple, will screen in competition at year’s fest, as will MGM+’s Hotel Cocaine, from Narcos showrunner Chris Brancato, a crime thriller featuring The Shield star Michael Chiklis and set in the booming cocaine scene in Miami in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
So Long Marianne, a Canadian-Norwegian co-production from Crave and Norway’s Nrk, will also get its first screening in Lille. The series stars Oppenheimer supporting actor Alex Wolff as legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen in a story of his turbulent relationship with Norwegian writer Marianne Ihlen (played by The Last Kingdom‘s Thea Sofie Loch Næss...
- 2/7/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Molly Seymour, who runs Emily In Paris outfit Jax’s UK division, is to join BBC Studios Comedy Productions as Creative Director.
Seymour has been with Jax for four years, building up the London-based outfit’s development slate and developing and producing Everyone Else Burns, the Simon Bird-starring Channel 4 comedy that sold to The CW in the States. It was subsequently pulled from linear schedules but remains on the streaming platform. She also produced short form series Peck’Eds with writer/performer Soph Galustian for BBC Three.
She will join the BBC Studios division early next year that makes the likes of Inside No. 9, Good Omens, Trying and Black Ops and will report to head Josh Cole in the newly-created role.
“We’re delighted to be bringing someone of Molly’s skill, creativity, and dynamism to the team,” said Cole. “Molly has a fine comic mind, impeccable...
Seymour has been with Jax for four years, building up the London-based outfit’s development slate and developing and producing Everyone Else Burns, the Simon Bird-starring Channel 4 comedy that sold to The CW in the States. It was subsequently pulled from linear schedules but remains on the streaming platform. She also produced short form series Peck’Eds with writer/performer Soph Galustian for BBC Three.
She will join the BBC Studios division early next year that makes the likes of Inside No. 9, Good Omens, Trying and Black Ops and will report to head Josh Cole in the newly-created role.
“We’re delighted to be bringing someone of Molly’s skill, creativity, and dynamism to the team,” said Cole. “Molly has a fine comic mind, impeccable...
- 12/8/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Streaming
“Sherlock” Seasons 1-4, “Death in Paradise” Seasons 1-11, “Unforgotten” Seasons 1-4 and “Life Below Zero” Seasons 1-9 are among the series that will be available as part of BBC Studios‘ new content agreement with Lemino, a Japanese video-on-demand streaming service operated by Ntt DoCoMo. The deal, which comes into effect Nov. 15 will also see Lemino subscribers gain access to long-running British dramas like “Call The Midwife” Seasons 1-11 and “Father Brown” Seasons 1-10, period dramas “The Pursuit of Love” and “Sanditon,” as well as documentary series “Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change The World.”
Cheryl Png, VP of distribution for Southeast Asia, South Korea and Japan of BBC Studios Asia, said: “BBC Studios is known for our premium content, powerful storytelling and the ability to connect with a global audience. We look forward to working closely with Ntt DoCoMo to showcase the depth and breadth of our programmes that...
“Sherlock” Seasons 1-4, “Death in Paradise” Seasons 1-11, “Unforgotten” Seasons 1-4 and “Life Below Zero” Seasons 1-9 are among the series that will be available as part of BBC Studios‘ new content agreement with Lemino, a Japanese video-on-demand streaming service operated by Ntt DoCoMo. The deal, which comes into effect Nov. 15 will also see Lemino subscribers gain access to long-running British dramas like “Call The Midwife” Seasons 1-11 and “Father Brown” Seasons 1-10, period dramas “The Pursuit of Love” and “Sanditon,” as well as documentary series “Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change The World.”
Cheryl Png, VP of distribution for Southeast Asia, South Korea and Japan of BBC Studios Asia, said: “BBC Studios is known for our premium content, powerful storytelling and the ability to connect with a global audience. We look forward to working closely with Ntt DoCoMo to showcase the depth and breadth of our programmes that...
- 11/15/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Apple TV+ Europe commissioner Tom Williams is leaving the streamer after a year to join the expanding BBC Studios Drama Productions team.
Williams was part of Jay Hunt’s European commissioning team, having joined from indie Wall to Wall towards the end of last year. His departure runs contrary to the trend of recent years in the UK, which has broadly seen execs exiting indies and networks to join streamers.
Williams will become Head of Development, Drama at BBC Studio Drama Productions. His prior credits include Ten Percent and The Man in the High Castle for Prime Video and The English Game for Netflix.
He takes the newly created role less than a week after it emerged Kate Oates had become Head of Drama Productions at BBC Studios, effectively replacing Priscilla Parish and making her the leader of the largest UK drama hub outside of London. Also joining is Roxanne Harvey,...
Williams was part of Jay Hunt’s European commissioning team, having joined from indie Wall to Wall towards the end of last year. His departure runs contrary to the trend of recent years in the UK, which has broadly seen execs exiting indies and networks to join streamers.
Williams will become Head of Development, Drama at BBC Studio Drama Productions. His prior credits include Ten Percent and The Man in the High Castle for Prime Video and The English Game for Netflix.
He takes the newly created role less than a week after it emerged Kate Oates had become Head of Drama Productions at BBC Studios, effectively replacing Priscilla Parish and making her the leader of the largest UK drama hub outside of London. Also joining is Roxanne Harvey,...
- 11/14/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Kate Oates has been named Head of Drama Productions at BBC Studios.
Earlier this morning in the UK, we revealed Parish had quietly stepped down from her role as Head of Drama at the BBC’s commercial arm. In effect, she’s replaced by Oates, who has been promoted from her current role as Head of Continuing Drama.
A BBC spokesperson said Oates was adopting a “slightly different slate of programs” to Parish’s shows, which included Bella Ramsay drama Time. She will retain oversight of flagship soap EastEnders, plus returning series Casualty, Father Brown, Sister Boniface, River City and Pobol Y Cwm and new comedy-drama Anfamol.
Oates role will lead see her take on the UK’s biggest drama production hub outside London with bases in England, Scotland and Wales. Her team will oversee Silent Witness when it moves to the West Midlands, along with a slate of drama...
Earlier this morning in the UK, we revealed Parish had quietly stepped down from her role as Head of Drama at the BBC’s commercial arm. In effect, she’s replaced by Oates, who has been promoted from her current role as Head of Continuing Drama.
A BBC spokesperson said Oates was adopting a “slightly different slate of programs” to Parish’s shows, which included Bella Ramsay drama Time. She will retain oversight of flagship soap EastEnders, plus returning series Casualty, Father Brown, Sister Boniface, River City and Pobol Y Cwm and new comedy-drama Anfamol.
Oates role will lead see her take on the UK’s biggest drama production hub outside London with bases in England, Scotland and Wales. Her team will oversee Silent Witness when it moves to the West Midlands, along with a slate of drama...
- 11/9/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Big Brother exec Katy Manley has said it is “derogatory and disingenuous” for people to dismiss reality TV shows as “guilty pleasures.”
Speaking during an Edinburgh TV Festival debate titled TV’s Snobbery Problem, Initial bosss Manley, who is helming the ITV Big Brother reboot with Natalka Znak, blasted those who don’t respect shows in which “people say their opinions in their own words.”
“Maybe that is not as palatable for [the detractors],” she added. “Maybe it’s because they’re not watching polished TV professionals but I think it’s derogatory and disingenuous to say these shows are guilty pleasures. There are hundreds of people working on them.”
Part of “the snobbery” is a “British sensibility to dismiss people who don’t have a traditional talent like singing or writing a book,” added Manley. Big Brother will return to ITV – its third UK network – later this year, five years after...
Speaking during an Edinburgh TV Festival debate titled TV’s Snobbery Problem, Initial bosss Manley, who is helming the ITV Big Brother reboot with Natalka Znak, blasted those who don’t respect shows in which “people say their opinions in their own words.”
“Maybe that is not as palatable for [the detractors],” she added. “Maybe it’s because they’re not watching polished TV professionals but I think it’s derogatory and disingenuous to say these shows are guilty pleasures. There are hundreds of people working on them.”
Part of “the snobbery” is a “British sensibility to dismiss people who don’t have a traditional talent like singing or writing a book,” added Manley. Big Brother will return to ITV – its third UK network – later this year, five years after...
- 8/23/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Producing
“The Crown” actor Derek Jacobi has boarded David Bartlett’s short film “Mousie” as executive producer, Variety can exclusively reveal. The film, which is produced by Will Poole (“Waffle the Wonder Dog”), tells the story of a seven-year-old Roma girl who seeks sanctuary from the Nazis in a decaying Weimar Cabaret Club.
“’Mousie’ is such a beautiful film – original, heartbreaking, yet also uplifting,” says Jacobi, who played the Duke of Windsor in Netflix’s royal series. “It is so relevant and provocative too. Amid really atmospheric cinematography and art direction, David Bartlett’s exquisite direction has delivered the most arresting performances, led by a remarkable young child. ‘Mousie’ is unmissable.”
Writer and director Bartlett began his career at the BBC where he worked on dramatizations including “The Great Train Robbery” and “The Hitler Diaries.” “Mousie,” which is eligible for Academy Award consideration, has screened at the Dublin International Film Festival,...
“The Crown” actor Derek Jacobi has boarded David Bartlett’s short film “Mousie” as executive producer, Variety can exclusively reveal. The film, which is produced by Will Poole (“Waffle the Wonder Dog”), tells the story of a seven-year-old Roma girl who seeks sanctuary from the Nazis in a decaying Weimar Cabaret Club.
“’Mousie’ is such a beautiful film – original, heartbreaking, yet also uplifting,” says Jacobi, who played the Duke of Windsor in Netflix’s royal series. “It is so relevant and provocative too. Amid really atmospheric cinematography and art direction, David Bartlett’s exquisite direction has delivered the most arresting performances, led by a remarkable young child. ‘Mousie’ is unmissable.”
Writer and director Bartlett began his career at the BBC where he worked on dramatizations including “The Great Train Robbery” and “The Hitler Diaries.” “Mousie,” which is eligible for Academy Award consideration, has screened at the Dublin International Film Festival,...
- 11/12/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Jon Sen, the exec of BBC1’s long-running soap EastEnders, is moving to oversee Casualty and two new high-end drama projects for BBC Studios, with Holby City producer Chris Clenshaw taking over EastEnders.
Sen has been helming EastEnders, which is produced by BBC Studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire, for the last three years, during which time he has overseen storylines tackling domestic violence and sexual abuse, along with the soap’s 35th anniversary. He also steered the show through the Covid-19 pandemic, helping implement stringent protocols as the show dropped from 30 to 20 minutes per ep but returned to air shortly after the UK production hiatus set in.
He will take on Casualty along with two new high-end drama projects greenlit by BBC Studios, replacing Deborah Sathe on the former, who had been exec-ing temporarily following the departure of Simon Harper.
Th two new high-end projects are yet to be announced. The...
Sen has been helming EastEnders, which is produced by BBC Studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire, for the last three years, during which time he has overseen storylines tackling domestic violence and sexual abuse, along with the soap’s 35th anniversary. He also steered the show through the Covid-19 pandemic, helping implement stringent protocols as the show dropped from 30 to 20 minutes per ep but returned to air shortly after the UK production hiatus set in.
He will take on Casualty along with two new high-end drama projects greenlit by BBC Studios, replacing Deborah Sathe on the former, who had been exec-ing temporarily following the departure of Simon Harper.
Th two new high-end projects are yet to be announced. The...
- 11/12/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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