Latest in BBC Studios

Netflix is exploring what it takes to become one of the world's leading surgeons in a four-part series from BBC Studios. It marks the production arm of the British public broadcaster's first commission from the SVOD service. The untitled science documentary series will be produced by BBC Studios Science Unit. Each…

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix's swelling ranks of commissioners in the UK is about to grow even further with the addition of an executive who played a vital role in bringing Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s smash hit comedy Fleabag to the screen. Deadline can reveal that Chris Sussman will join the streamer next month as director of the…

Elton John will open up about his struggles with addiction in a BBC One documentary, in which he will be interviewed by Graham Norton. BBC Studios is making the special, titled Elton John: Uncensored, which was recorded in the south of France in August. John will reflect on his career and performances, as well as talk…

BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC responsible for making and selling shows like Doctor Who, has announced that it has cut its gender pay gap. In a report published on Thursday, it said: Its median pay gap stood at 10.3%, down from 14.1% in 2018. BBC Studios’ mean pay gap was 17.6%, compared with 19.6% last…

EXCLUSIVE: BBC Studios is developing an access documentary on one of Britain’s biggest restaurant chains, with Viacom’s Channel 5 the likely destination for the show. Deadline has learned that BBC Studios wants to take viewers behind the scenes of Pizza Express, which operates 627 restaurants in the UK and is many…

Blue Planet II commissioner Tom McDonald is moving into production to become the director of factual at BBC Studios. McDonald will move over to the BBC’s commercial production arm in early 2020 after four years as the British broadcaster’s head of natural history and specialist factual commissioning. He will report to…

BBC Studios has hired former Netflix exec Rob Smith to head up its LA-based production division. The Good Omens and Doctor Who producer has appointed Smith as General Manager after his predecessor Matt Forde relocated to London to assume the role of Managing Director, International Production & Formats, as revealed by…

Bodyguard and Line of Duty producer Priscilla Parish is to become the head of drama at the BBC’s commercial production arm BBC Studios. Parish will take up the newly created role in November, joining from World Productions where she was an executive producer and head of development. Parish will report to Ralph Lee…

Game of Thrones star Richard Dormer is to lead the cast of BBC America's The Watch, based on Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. Dormer stars as Sam Vimes, Captain of The Watch, disempowered by a broken society that's reduced his department's jurisdiction to almost nothing, in the eight-part series, which is…

British motoring format Top Gear is driving off with three new local remakes in the Nordics. Discovery Networks Nordics is adapting the format – made famous by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May – in Sweden, Denmark and Norway after striking a deal with BBC Studios. Banijay Group-backed Nordisk Film TV…

Upcoming snowboarding thriller Shiver is being adapted for television after Firebird Pictures, the indie set up by Bodyguard exec producer Elizabeth Kilgarriff, snapped up the rights to Allie Reynolds’ debut novel. The book is set in the French Alps and follows five friends who reunite years after taking part in a…

BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the British broadcaster, has combined its international sales and distribution businesses together, and named Paul Dempsey to the newly-created role of President, Global Distribution. Dempsey, who joined BBC Worldwide in 1998 and has held a number of senior positions, will relocate…