Sarah Doole Passes Away at Age 63

Industry veteran Sarah Doole, who had held roles at RED Production Company, Fremantle, BBC Worldwide and Anton, has died following a battle with breast cancer.

Doole’s industry credits include serving as CEO of RED Production Company, director of global drama at Fremantle and creative director of drama and head of indie drama at BBC Worldwide. She founded Sow the Seed in August 2020 as an incubator focusing on underrepresented voices across platforms such as podcasts, literature, art, fashion and TV. She joined Anton in January 2023 to found its TV studio.

Sangeeta Desai, board member of Anton’s TV studio, said: “Sarah and I joined Fremantle at the same time in 2013, and since then, she has been my creative partner and advisor in the scripted TV business. She was instrumental in building Fremantle’s global drama business into what it is today, and even in her short time at Anton, she infused us with her creativity, positivity and passion and has left us with a lasting legacy on screen, in our team and in our slate. Since her death, tributes have poured in from across the globe, and I am overwhelmed by the number of people within the industry who have remarked on how she supported them and lifted them up in their careers. That sums up Sarah to a tee—she was a builder: a builder of content, people and companies, and she never looked for any recognition or commendation in return. She was the best colleague and friend that I could have asked for, and I will miss her tremendously.”

Friend and former colleague David Liddiment added: “Sarah Doole stood out from the crowd as a TV executive and not just because of the stylish colorful clothes which became her trademark. As Fremantle’s director of Global Drama, she was committed to uncovering new stories which illuminated as well as entertained. She encouraged new talent on every level, was accessible to all and championed greater diversity in the workforce. Providing coherence and leadership to a scatter of production companies across the world had its challenges. Sarah battled against defensiveness, cynicism, sexism, and snobbery and countered with transparency, best practice and collaboration. And she prevailed because she was persuasive, arguing calmly whilst quietly disarming obstacles until the sense of her position was undeniable. In short, Sarah Doole stood out because she was one of the best.”