BBC Studios hires Bantry Bay exec to fuel scripted push in Germany & bolsters entertainment team

LR: Eva Holtmann, Susen Schadwinkel, Kai Krabbenhöft

BBC Studios (BBCS) is looking to ramp up original and scripted format deals in Germany after naming Bantry Bay exec Eva Holtmann as its new head of fiction, one of three additions to the regional team.

Holtmann is joined by Constantin Entertainment exec Susen Schadwinkel, who has been named executive producer, and joins ex-UFA exec Kai Krabbenhöft, who was appointed as BBCS Germany’s head of development for entertainment in May.

Holtmann will join the Cologne-based team in September and will focus on exploiting BBCS’s scripted formats catalogue as well as developing original and local stories.

Existing executive producers Lea Gamula and Jessica Wirdemann will report into Holtmann with a focus on expanding BBCS’s scripted output in Germany.

Holtmann spent more than seven years at Bantry Bay as an executive producer, where she was responsible for developing, selling and producing feature films, TV movies, series and sitcoms.

The 1% Club (UK)

Phil Schmid, BBCS Germany MD, said: “Eva’s wealth of experience will be invaluable as we build a full service in-house fiction department.

“Bringing in more formidable talent is a reflection of our ambition in Germany and we are now really moving from our launch phase in the market to scaling our business, with great people at its heart.”

Expanding entertainment

BBCS Germany is also expanding its entertainment team under Markus Templin, with Schadwinkel joining this month following stints at Endemol Shine, Brainpool and RedSeven.

Her remit includes oversight of the next seasons of The 1% Club for ProSiebenSat.1 – ordered last year – and she will also work across large-scale entertainment commissions with Templin.

Schadwinkel joins head of development Krabbenhöft, who started in May having been a producer for UFA Show & Factual on Germany’s Got Talent. He is responsible for supercharging format adaptation and original development activities.

Templin said the additions would help BBCS “to broaden out our development and production slate.”