EXCLUSIVE: Disney‘s hunt for its subsequent European content material supremo reached the very highest echelons of the BBC, however the Mouse Home seems to be to have emerged empty-handed.
Deadline can reveal that BBC content material boss Charlotte Moore, essentially the most highly effective individual in British TV and audio commissioning, held talks over a transfer to Disney, however in the end turned down the chance. Disney and the BBC declined to remark.
Disney wished Moore to grow to be its subsequent SVP of Authentic Content material in EMEA. Recruitment for the position has been the discuss of the UK TV trade since Deadline revealed Liam Keelan was exiting after five years. Keelan constructed an EMEA originals crew from scratch and the present that may possible outline his Disney legacy is Rivals, the big-budget Jilly Cooper adaptation that has been renewed for a second season. Others included doc collection Coleen Rooney: The Actual Wagatha Story and Daniel Brühl-starrer Turning into Karl Lagerfeld.
Disney is aiming excessive with Keelan’s successor. The audacious effort to woo Moore is revealing of its plans for the position and its significance within the Mouse Home’s ecosystem. The corporate can be understood to have approached Netflix’s UK chief Anne Mensah and Polly Hill, ITV’s head of drama.
Though not formally concerned in recruitment efforts, sources stated Disney CEO Bob Iger and leisure chief Dana Walden have taken an curiosity within the course of and have been in Europe in current weeks. The formal search is being led by Disney TV Studios President Eric Schrier, who oversees worldwide content material technique.
It’s not clear why Moore turned down the position, which might possible have elevated her £468,000 ($600,000) wage, however lowered her content material slate and spending energy. Individuals conversant in the method stated the industrial calls for of Disney and the centrifugal power of America would make it a really totally different proposition to the BBC.
Moore has overseen the BBC’s tv output since 2016, including audio and sport to her portfolio in 2020, when she was elevated to Chief Content material Officer and joined the BBC Board after dropping out to Tim Davie within the race to grow to be Director Normal. She oversees hundreds of hours of TV and has greenlit lots of the nation’s largest hits, together with Traitors, Fleabag, and The Evening Supervisor. In current instances, the BBC and Disney have teamed on the regenerated Physician Who.
Different Massive Names Focused
Sources advised Deadline that Netflix UK content material boss Mensah and ITV’s Polly Hill additionally had conversations with Disney, although it isn’t clear if they’re prepared to depart their present roles.
The pair have had a powerful 12 months, with Netflix UK fare like Child Reindeer, The Gents and Idiot Me As soon as going gangbusters for the streamer. Hill, in the meantime, is a well-respected commissioner who had a front-row seat as ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Submit Workplace generated headlines for weeks and had an outsized impression on the political panorama initially of the 12 months. She can be a former BBC drama boss.
If nobody from the UK might be plucked, sources additionally speculated that Jon Wax, who joined Disney within the newly-created EVP, Worldwide Authentic Tv for Disney Leisure, submit initially of this 12 months, may have his position expanded. The Los Angeles-based exec works with regional leaders and their groups throughout the globe to create native content material for Disney+.
The seek for Keelan’s alternative continues. Keelan, who labored with Moore for years on the BBC, will exit early subsequent 12 months.
