BBC Content material Chief Runners & Riders: Who Replaces Charlotte Moore?

Charlotte Moore’s resolution to give up the BBC has opened up probably the most highly effective artistic job in British tv — and inside minutes hypothesis was rampant about who might succeed the outgoing content material chief.

Moore shocked the trade this morning by asserting plans to tackle a twin position at Sony Photos Tv, which can contain overseeing worldwide artistic output and working The Crown producer Left Financial institution Photos as CEO. She is going to change Andy Harries, who yesterday revealed he’s transitioning to Govt Chairman.

Sources say Moore has been in talks for months with Wayne Garvie, president of Sony Photos Tv, Worldwide, a couple of distinctive position. These discussions overlapped with Moore being courted for a global position at Disney however in the long run, she opted for Sony. “I feel a artistic problem with out the politics of a worldwide firm had extra enchantment to her in a post-BBC life,” stated an indie boss who’s shut with Moore. She is going to report back to Garvie, cementing a years-long friendship between the 2 executives.

Moore is a discrete particular person, that means the information of her departure was an entire shock to colleagues on the BBC, the place she has overseen tv output for the previous eight years. “We’re completely shocked,” stated one senior commissioner. “We have been all saved at midnight.” The BBC is but to touch upon succession plans however in his notice to workers, BBC Director Common Tim Davie stated “interim plans will likely be confirmed shortly” and the seek for Moore’s everlasting successor begins instantly. Early hypothesis has alighted on unscripted chief, and Moore confidante, Kate Phillips taking over the caretaker position whereas recruitment is stay. She has been unofficially appearing up in current weeks after Moore injured herself on vacation.

Moore has been an unflinching advocate for the facility of public service broadcasting, and the glowing tributes to the job she has completed recommend she is going to depart large footwear to fill. “She is irreplaceable,” stated Nisha Parti, who produced BBC drama The Boy with the Topknot and cited Moore’s above-and-beyond work blooding various expertise. “Charlotte Moore has completed extra for the BBC and the TV trade than virtually anybody will ever notice.” One in all her new Sony colleagues praised her potential to “all the time appear so calm and really easy to entry regardless of all of the infinite issues that one faces working the BBC.” These “infinite issues” will quickly be a factor of the previous for Moore. On the day she introduced her exit, the BBC Board, which she sits on, is assembly to debate the company’s newest editorial controversy, the Gaza: How one can Survive a Warzone doc.

In his workers memo, Davie, who went up in opposition to Moore for the Director Common gig 4 years in the past, lavished reward on Moore, saying she had “helped rework the BBC in a world of intense competitors and selection.” The previous documentary commissioner’s legacy on the BBC encompasses hits like Bodyguard, I Could Destroy You, The Traitors, and Gavin & Stacey: The Finale. She was the brains behind the BBC’s largest commissioning revamp in its 100-year historical past, which noticed the company put off channel controllers with a purpose to pivot in direction of iPlayer — a transfer that has since change into a mannequin for its rivals.

Jobs like this don’t come round fairly often. Certainly, as detailed by Deadline at first of the yr, there was a interval of unprecedented stability on the prime of British tv, with content material chiefs on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 all having been in publish for document intervals of time.

WhatsApp is pinging to the sound of potential contenders to switch Moore, so enable Deadline to stroll you thru a few of the names who’re more likely to be within the combine because the BBC prepares for a brand new period.

Anne Mensah, Netflix’s UK Vice President of Content material
Mensah will certainly be a candidate close to the highest of the BBC’s wishlist. The Netflix govt wowed colleagues in Los Gatos with a parade of hits final yr, as British reveals together with Child Reindeer, Idiot Me As soon as, The Gents, and One Day all dominated the streamer’s most-watched listing. Child Reindeer has additionally been a darling of awards season, clinching Emmy and Golden Globe prizes. Mensah loves the BBC and has beforehand served as its head of impartial drama, however can the company afford her? Moore earned £468,000 ($590,000) final yr. And would Netflix mount a rearguard motion to maintain its prized govt? There may be broad settlement that she is certified to succeed Moore, however uncertainty over whether or not it’s the precise job on the proper time for Mensah. “Can’t see her doing that,” was the decision of 1 well-connected tv govt.

Zai Bennett, BBC Studios Productions CEO
Ex-BBC Three controller and Sky Studios exec Zai Bennett has simply commenced his new job working BBC Studios Productions however at the least half a dozen sources floated his identify straight off the bat. Bennett, whose credit at Sky included Chernobyl, Gangs of London and Patrick Melrose, is a well-liked packages exec who’s equally adept throughout scripted and non-scripted, which might be enormously beneficial for whoever replaces Moore. He solely got here in for Ralph Lee at BBC Studios in November however an insider with data of the BBC Studios interview course of stated Bennett’s position is considered as one thing of a springboard to the highest BBC content material job. “It’s arguably a significantly better match for Zai than his present position,” famous this supply. However, it could nonetheless be shocking if Bennett was to maneuver so early in his BBC Studios tenure.

Kate Phillips, BBC Director of Unscripted
As quickly as Davie instructed workers an interim plan could be introduced shortly, sources from inside and outdoors the company speculated that unscripted supremo Kate Phillips could be an excellent match. Phillips is extremely near Moore and has been throughout a few of the BBC’s largest current hits, together with The Traitors. In 2022, she took on the Director of Unscripted position overseeing a whole lot of hours value of reveals per yr. Notably, that place was created for Phillips by Moore following the botched Factual, Arts and Classical Music Director recruitment course of. By way of taking over Moore’s position completely, sources famous that Phillips is common, has good relationships with indies and is commercially minded given her earlier expertise in distribution. She has additionally been on the coalface of main BBC scandals, not least these involving Strictly Come Dancing and MasterChef host Gregg Wallace. Having stated this, given a few of the allegations in opposition to Wallace are alleged to have occurred on her watch, this might rely in opposition to her. In current weeks, we’re instructed that Phillips has at factors been appearing up for Moore after Moore broke her ankle whereas snowboarding, and she or he is known to have been dipping her toe into drama. Lack of drama expertise could be the principle issue counting in opposition to Phillips.

Jay Hunt, Artistic Director, Europe, Apple TV+
Hunt was one of many first names on folks’s lips after information of Moore’s exit broke as we speak. The Apple TV+ govt boasts a CV of high-ranking roles (not least BBC One Controller and Channel 4 Head of Content material), which suggests she is comfortably certified. The extra pertinent query is: is the job sufficiently big for Hunt? She was within the combine to change into Channel 4’s CEO in 2017 and was talked about as a possible BBC Director Common in 2020, however each jobs went elsewhere. Sources say she will likely be among the many favorites when the identical vacancies open up once more. Within the meantime, Hunt can level to Apple success tales together with Gradual Horses and Unhealthy Sisters. She additionally has her palms full because the chair of the BFI — a task that has seen her re-emerge within the public highlight after years of laying low at Apple.

Kevin Lygo, ITV Managing Director of Media and Leisure
The veteran govt would certainly be thought-about by the BBC ought to he point out a willingness to succeed Moore. He’s ITV’s longest-serving content material chief, overseeing hits together with Love Island, The 1% Membership, and Mr Bates vs The Publish Workplace. Does he have the urge for food for one more main position? Individuals have their doubts. And maybe extra to the purpose, is he the precise match for the BBC? He’s a business broadcasting animal and one thing of a mischievous spirit when speaking on public platforms, which can not sit nicely with the BBC’s extra buttoned-up strategy to communication. Controversies on Lygo’s watch, together with the Phillip Schofield disaster and the 2007 Massive Brother racism scandal, would even be raked over if he have been elevated to the BBC.

Ben Frow, Paramount’s UK Chief Content material Officer
Frow could be a shock choose for the BBC, however that definitely doesn’t imply that he could be an unpopular choose. Usually lauded for his maverick perspective to commissioning, Paramount’s UK artistic boss has impressively reinvented and reinvigorated Channel 5 over a sustained interval. His hit listing consists of All Creatures Nice and Small and Michael Palin in North Korea. Frow likes to work with a small and well-drilled content material workforce, which might be engaging for the BBC at a time when the company is reducing prices. Channel 5’s potential to be nimble fits his skillset, that means the BBC could look like an excessive amount of of an oil tanker. Frow isn’t shy of a problem, nonetheless, and has the chutzpah to again himself for a much bigger position.

Patrick Holland, Banijay UK CEO
Banijay UK boss Patrick Holland had a profitable stint working BBC Two at a time when Moore was BBC One Controller, and they might have labored carefully collectively for years. He left the BBC following the commissioning revamp and has been making an affect at Massive Brother maker Banijay UK, putting splashy expertise offers with the likes of James Norton, buying labels, and consolidating others. As with Moore, he was initially a docs commissioner and could be an skilled hand. He’s thought, nonetheless, to be comfortable at Banijay, with no plans to maneuver.

Ian Katz, Chief Content material Officer, Channel 4
Sources assume that it’s doubtless that BBC headhunters will take into account Katz, however whether or not he’s a severe candidate is a matter of debate. Katz is well liked by trade colleagues, however Channel 4 has hit stormy climate throughout his tenure and folks query whether or not he has completed sufficient to replenish the broadcaster’s inventory of returnable hits. Katz will level to success tales together with The Piano, The Jury: Homicide Tria and Massive Boys, in addition to large swings such because the deal to convey Taskmaster to Channel 4. He’s additionally no stranger to the BBC having edited Newsnight in a previous life. An outdoor wager.

Jane Turton, All3Media CEO
The highly-regarded All3Media CEO was an out of doors wager for Director Common 4 years in the past and, though her overlords are American, she has all the time been fairly the cheerleader for British public service broadcasting. At All3Media, Turton has been a part of big BBC hits like The Traitors and Fleabag, and she or he is admired throughout the company. Whereas she little doubt has many followers on the earth of British broadcasting, sources famous that Turton’s power lies in her enterprise and finance acumen over her artistic background, which might rely in opposition to her ought to she go for the position. “I’m unsure she’d need it except it might result in her changing into Director Common,” mused one former colleague.

Outsiders
Different names are circulating the rumor mill this afternoon. Might Liam Keelan observe up working Disney’s EMEA content material with a tilt at Moore’s position? He’s well-liked and has huge expertise working for the BBC. Different extra leftfield potentials embrace Ben Stephenson, the previous BBC drama chief now working manufacturing outfit Poison Pen; Julian Bellamy, MD of ITV Studios; Polly Hill, the ITV drama boss lately courted for Keelan’s position at Disney; and Angela Jain, head of unscripted at ITV Studios.

Thriller Candidate
If the BBC casts its internet broad, would it not look to America for a big-hitter? These recruitment processes usually produce a leftfield candidate and poaching an govt from a U.S. community or streaming service might be interesting to BBC boss Davie, who perennially talks in regards to the competitors from these firms. There might be a darkish horse not amongst as we speak’s hypothesis.