Jane
Tranter announces new appointments in Drama Commissioning
Jane
Tranter, Controller of Drama Commissioning, today announces new
appointments and confirms responsibilities within the drama team.
Sally
Woodward Gentle, currently Head of Drama Development for
Independents, will become Head of Development, Drama Commissioning,
taking on a wider development role within the department and working
with independents, in-house production and the nations.
Sally's
Executive Producer credits at the BBC include Tipping The Velvet,
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Jeffrey Archer - The Truth and the
forthcoming Cambridge Spies.
Prior
to this she was managing director of Kudos (where her credits included
Psychos for Channel 4) and Executive Producer at Limelight for a
number of productions including Teenage Health Freak, Reboot (the
first computer generated television series) and the award-winning
documentary Edward VIII - The Traitor King.
Sarah
Brandist, currently Marketing Manager for Drama, joins
Jane's team as Genre Executive. In this new post Sarah will help
guide and create the future growth of BBC drama, ensure that its
potential is fully explored across all the BBC's channels and services,
and provide strategic support to the editorial management of drama
commissioning.
Sarah has worked
across publicity and marketing for BBC Drama since 1997. Within
marketing Sarah has managed all drama campaigns including EastEnders'
"Who Shot Phil?", Spooks and The Lost Prince for BBC ONE;
and Tipping the Velvet, Babyfather and Flesh and Blood for BBC TWO.
Over the past two years she has worked closely on the development
of the strategy for drama commissioning.
Working
within Drama Commissioning, Gareth Neame will continue
to build on his successes with the independent production sector
as Head of Drama Independent Commissioning.
In
addition he will take on a more integrated role and greater managerial
responsibilities within the commissioning department.
He
will also work with Jane Tranter on an initiative about risk taking
in drama for Making It Happen. Recent commissions from his department
include Spooks, Tipping The Velvet, Trust, Hound of the Baskervilles,
Red Cap and Murder.
Mal
Young, Controller of Continuing Drama Series, continues
to have self-commissioning responsibilities for EastEnders, Holby
City and Casualty as well as production responsibilities for his
department's other drama series (Down To Earth, Judge John Deed,
Dalziel & Pascoe, Merseybeat, In Deep).
Robert
Cooper, Barbara McKissack, and Matthew
Robinson as Heads of Drama for BBC Northern Ireland (Messiah,
Murphy's Law, Sinners) , BBC Scotland (Monarch of the Glen, Real
Men, The Key) and BBC Wales (Servants, Carrie's War, Hearts of Gold)
respectively will continue to provide Jane with both in-house and
independent productions from the nations.
In-house
serials will continue to be commissioned from Laura Mackie
as Head of Drama Serials, (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Cutting It, Daniel
Deronda) and David Thompson's BBC Films division
also has its televison output commissioned directly through Jane
(Out of Control, Tomorrow La Scala, The Lost Prince).
Jane
Tranter, says: "The talent within BBC Drama is exceptional
both in production and commissioning, and these new appointments
add to that.
"Sally's
new role will give her greater power to find and nurture interesting
and creative ideas, while Sarah's contribution to the growth of
BBC Drama will be further enhanced by joining the department and
playing on her strategic strengths.
"While
continuing to focus on Independent Drama for the BBC, Gareth will
have a more central role within the department.
"We
are very lucky to have such a strong in-house production base, both
in London and the nations, and a thriving independent production
sector to commission from, their combined force have played an invaluable
role in the continued strengthening and regenerating of BBC drama".
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels - including BBC THREE
- as well as six BBC radio networks.
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