BBC Wales drama chief to join War & Peace prodco

BBC Wales head of drama Faith Penhale (pictured) will join the prodco behind upcoming drama War & Peace, Lookout Point, as joint CEO.

Starting in February 2016, she will work alongside Lookout Point founder and co-chief executive Simon Vaughan to develop the firm’s original drama slate.

She currently oversees the BBC Drama department behind shows such as Doctor Who, having worked for the BBC for the past five years. She was a candidate to become the BBC’s new drama controller after the exit of Ben Stephenson, but that role ultimately went to Polly Hill.

The BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, has a 35% stake in Lookout Point, which is coproducing Tolstoy adaptation War & Peace with the BBC and The Weinstein Company for BBC One. It has also helped finance shows such as Ripper Street and Parade’s End.

War & Peace has already been presold to various broadcasters around the world.