BBC Studios’ Documentary Unit’s New Commissions & Hires

BBC Studios’ Documentary Unit has three new commissions in the works, including Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure.

In the series, Emmerdale star and Strictly Come Dancing winner Kelvin Fletcher and his family leave the city behind and attempt to start a new life and farming business in the country. It sees Fletcher contend with the tough world of livestock markets, sheep wrangling and the maintenance of a huge estate.

In the tentatively titled Inside the Autistic Mind, presenter Chris Packham will work with autistic people who are at key points in their lives, immersing himself in their everyday experiences and observing and learning about the ways these individuals sense and interact with the world. He’ll also introduce them to people who may be able to answer their questions about their particular experience of autism and then work with CGI, VFX and animation facilities to use their expertise to bring these interior worlds to life.

There’s also a series that tells a story of struggle, triumph and resistance brought to life through the lens of hip-hop art with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.

Alan Holland, who is six months into his role as head of BBC Studios’ Documentary Unit, has launched a production strategy centered around three genre pillars: Documentary & Crime, Specialist Factual and Popular Factual. Each is overseen by a creative director. Kirsty Cunningham (Documentary & Crime) and Abigail Priddle (Specialist Factual) both started with the division earlier this year and were joined by Ben Mitchell as creative director of Popular Factual.

New executive producer hires include Amanda Lyon working across specialist factual series for a range of domestic and international broadcasters, Sam Emmery specializing in documentaries and Anna Sadowy working across documentaries.

Holland said: “It’s a really exciting time to be working in factual production, so it’s thrilling to see our slate grow at such a pace, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Bringing Ben in as a creative director and Amanda, Anna, Ben as executive producers into the unit is already having a transformative effect on development and in production.”

Tom McDonald, managing managing director of factual, alongside the Natural History Unit and the Science Unit, said: “Alan has really hit the ground running these past six months, winning multiple new projects and ensuring exceptional delivery of the pipeline he inherited. The Documentary Unit is becoming a magnet for the best creative talent in factual across the U.K.—this feels like just the beginning for Alan and team’s growth.”

Packham said: “Some people say their autism is a ‘superpower’. I see it as a gift, but one which when you open it you don’t always get what you want. It will be interesting to see how others similar to me feel about their lives.”

Jack Bootle, BBC commissioning editor, said: “This is a fascinating project. After the success of his multi award-winning documentary, Asperger’s & Me, I’m delighted that Chris is continuing to explore the autistic experience with the BBC.”

Fletcher said: “This is without doubt the biggest challenge I’ve ever taken on! I’m really excited to share the unforgettable first steps into our new life of farming and adventures!”