Frank Spotnitz’s Big Light Taps Former BBC Drama Exec

LONDON: Katie McAleese, who previously served as an executive producer at BBC Wales Drama and creative director for BBC Drama Production, has joined Big Light Productions as creative director.

McAleese will develop and produce original British dramas, along with taking an active role in the company’s future co-productions and pursuing opportunities for British writers in the global marketplace. At BBC Wales Drama, McAleese oversaw The Living and the Dead, a Victorian supernatural series for BBC One and BBC America, and developed a slate of original ideas for all BBC channels.

Big Light, founded by Frank Spotnitz, has launched such dramas as The Man in the High Castle for Amazon; Medici: Masters of Florence for Rai1 and Netflix; and Ransom for CBS, TF1, Global and RTL.

“Katie is deeply admired by writers and executives alike, and for good reason,” said Spotnitz, Big Light’s chief executive. “She’s incredibly bright and has impeccable taste. I couldn’t be more excited that she’s joining the team at Big Light.”

McAleese said, “Big Light has built an extraordinary presence in the international market with a track record of delivering series at scale and for putting the writer at the center of what they do. I’m thrilled to be joining as the company enters an exciting new phase of growth in the U.K.”