BBC drama boss leaves to revive FremantleMedia’s Euston Films

The BBC’s head of drama, Kate Harwood (left), is leaving the UK public broadcaster revive Euston Films, the FremantleMedia-owned production company that made iconic series including Van der Valk, The Sweeney and Minder between 1971 and 1994 before winding down

Harwood will leave her role as head of drama production to become managing director at Euston. In that capacity she will report to Sara Geater, CEO of FremantleMedia UK who said: “Euston Films is a name associated with iconic drama, and I’m delighted to announce that we will be launching it as a new label as part of FremantleMedia UK. Our strategy is to produce high-end drama with global reach, and Kate’s appointment as Managing Director of Euston Films is a real coup.”

Euston will sit alongside FremantleMedia UK’s other drama labels Boundless, Newman Street, Retort, Talkback and Thames.

Harwood joins the company after more than two decades at the BBC. During that period she has been exec producer of long-running soap Eastenders and worked on Luther, The Musketeers and Silent Witness. She has been head of drama since last year when the Continuing Drama and Daytime Drama departments were brought under her control.

She said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of Managing Director of Euston Films and am really relishing the challenge of new ventures in drama in the independent sector after many happy years in BBC Production.”