BBC Studios exodus continues with unscripted exits

The lead BBC exec at motoring series Top Gear is the latest senior staffer to leave the British broadcaster’s new studios arm.

Katie Taylor (left), who also oversees Strictly Come Dancing at the UK pubcaster, is leaving her role as head of entertainment, music and events at BBC Studios.

News of her departure came on the same day as that BBC Studios controller of factual and daytime Natalie Humphreys, who oversees long-running magazine series Countryfile and The One Show.

BBC Studios director Mark Linsey is expected to announce a restructuring imminently. Various senior executives aware of the plans are decided to leave, with controller of fiction and entertainment Mark Freeland saying “strategic changes” would not allow him the right “the creative platform”.

Linsey himself was thrust into the spotlight when previous BBC Studios incumbent Peter Salmon exited before launch to become chief creative officer at Endemol Shine Group. Head of natural history Wendy Darke also exited.

Other senior BBC Television execs such as Kim Shillinglaw, Janice Hadlow, Alan Yentob and Danny Cohen have left the Corporation in the past year.

Taylor has been with the BBC since 2005, joining from rival Channel 4. She took on the new Chris Evans-fronted Top Gear after the exits of former BBC Two boss Shillinglaw and executive producer Lisa Clark.

Chris Sussman recently replaced Myfanwy Moore as head of comedy at BBC Studios, but most genre posts remain open and may change focus in Linsey’s restructure.