BBC Worldwide Adds to Fact-Ent & Formats Team

BBC Worldwide has filled two newly created roles in its fact-entertainment, factual and formats division, designed to grow the genre’s formats pipeline, boost its creative partnerships and deliver new funding models.

Jayne Stanger becomes the head of creative network for formats. She will sit at the center of eight global production offices and is tasked with having regular dialogue with international partners and ensuring that local knowledge is shared with all of Worldwide’s creative partners. Her most recent role before joining BBC Worldwide was as exec producer on ITV’s The Voice Kids.

Emma Hardie also assumes the post of commercial director for factual entertainment, entertainment and formats. She is currently BBC Worldwide’s commercial director for the BBC Earth brand. She will be responsible for identifying opportunities and developing the division’s commercial strategy, as well as creating new investment opportunities by developing funding initiatives and partnerships with emerging social media buyers and non-traditional players. She will report to Tracy Forsyth, BBC Worldwide’s fact ent/factual and formats genre director.

Forsyth said: “Emma and Jayne are each powerhouses in what they do and I’m delighted to have them strengthening our team. Their roles are designed to supercharge opportunities for our production partners to create IP in factual entertainment and formats and ensure that the creative power of our global production network is maximized for the BBC Worldwide family.”

Hardie commented: “I’m thrilled to be joining such a fantastic team and supporting BBC Worldwide’s creative ambition in this genre. There is real opportunity to explore new types of content partnerships and funding models in this space—it’s a really exciting time for innovation.”

Stanger added: “I am delighted to be joining BBC Worldwide and to be sitting at the heart of a truly international creative network. I look forward to building on the company’s reputation as the provider of the most-talked-about and loved entertainment brands in the world.”