BBC Studios Productions merges units to create global entertainment division

Luther

BBC Studios Productions is merging its entertainment & music, fact-ent and events & international productions and formats teams into a single global entertainment business.

Beginning operation on 1 October, the newly combined unit will be led by Matt Forde as managing director of global entertainment. Forde currently served as MD for international productions and formats and will also retain this responsibility.

Hannah Wyatt and Suzy Lamb will continue to lead the UK based factual entertainment and events and entertainment and music teams as managing directors , reporting into Forde and working closely with him to create a leadership board for the new business.

The global entertainment arm will also house the production companies Mothership Productions and Mettlemouse Entertainment and continue to work with indie partners including Magnum Media, Final Straw Productions, Rebel Rebel Pictures and Hungry Bear Media.

BBC Studios said that combining these teams will “empower the creation and international expansion of new formats.”

Forde has overseen BBC Studios’ international productions and formats business outside the UK since 2018 and in the last three years the business has more than doubled, with wholly owned bases in the US, India, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa and most recently the Nordics. Its shows during this period have included Dancing With The Stars, The Great Bake Off and The 1% Club – as well as scripted formats such as Ghosts, Doctor Foster and Luther.

“As the Global Entertainment market continues to evolve at pace bringing our UK businesses into the centre of what we do will help us to continue creating, selling and adapting the best shows and brands from the UK working with the amazing talent in our local BBC Studios offices to deliver the next generation of entertainment and reality programmes to the world,” said Forde.