BBCS hires Fremantle’s Lexi Landsman for unscripted development in Australia

Lexi Landsman (Source: BBCS)

BBC Studios (BBCS) has hired former Fremantle and ITV Studios exec Lexi Landsman to work across development of its unscripted output in Australia.

Landsman will work under Deb Spinocchia’s team at BBCS Productions Australia, which is focused on developing formats and originals across factual, entertainment and reality.

Its output includes the upcoming Top Gear Australia for Paramount+, Dancing With The Stars for Seven Network and Mastermind for SBS, as well as Binge’s Great Australian Bake Off S8.

Landsman was most recently head of development for unscripted at Fremantle Australia, working on shows such as Extra-Ordinary Things for the ABC.

She joined having been a senior development producer at ITV Studios where credits included Alone for SBS and prior to that had spent a decade at the Seven Network in factual and reality production and development.

Kylie Washington, general manager at BBCS Productions Australia, said: “Lexi is an accomplished and experienced television executive with an in-depth knowledge of the global unscripted marketplace and a proven track record of adapting and refreshing existing formats as well as developing original programmes, and I’m delighted that she is joining the team.

“Our unscripted business has gone from strength to strength under Deb’s leadership and now is the right time to further bolster the team to continue our growth.”

The Aussie unit also produces scripted shows including local Death In Paradise spin-off Return To Paradise, produced with Red Planet Pictures for the ABC in association with the BBC.

The Office Australia, co-produced with Bunya Entertainment, will screen on Prime Video later this year, while BBCS has also been investing in its regional operation with the recent acquisition of Werner Film Productions, the Melbourne-based firm behind ABC drama The Newsreader.

Landsman has written two novels, with her second in scripted development with a third-party for an adaptation into a psychological drama.