BBC unscripted supremo Kate Phillips has landed the biggest job in British broadcasting.
Sources indicated that the corporation will announce later this week, possibly today, that The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing commissioner Phillips is to replace Charlotte Moore as the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, overseeing thousands of hours of TV per year plus radio, podcasts and sport. Moore has exited to Sony and Left Bank.
Phillips has been frontrunner for the job almost since the day Moore announced her exit in February. We understand she has beaten off competition from the likes of BBC iPlayer and channels boss Dan McGolpin, Nat Geo EVP Tom McDonald and David Brindley, the Chief Creative Officer of Destination X producer Twofour. Big names including Netflix UK chief Anne Mensah, Banijay UK boss Patrick Holland and BBC Studios Productions head Zai Bennett also had conversations. We revealed the race was nearing its final two around a fortnight ago.
On the day Moore announced her departure, Deadline’s runners and riders piece pointed to early speculation alighting on Phillips taking on the role and her frontrunner status appeared to have been cemented several weeks later. She is incredibly close to Moore, is highly rated by the production sector and has been taking on the role on an interim basis for the past few months, during which time sources say she has impressed BBC bosses. She is thought to have gone up in front of a panel including BBC Director General Tim Davie over the past few days.
Phillips faces a series of immense challenges in the top content role that paid out £468,000 ($630,000) last year. Steering BBC content in the digital age is not for the faint hearted and the corporation is facing up to declining license fee funding, rapid inflation and what it has declared an American co-pro crisis in drama. Phillips has virtually no drama or comedy experience and will have to lean heavily on drama boss Lindsay Salt and comedy chief Jon Petrie.
But as with Moore, sources have told us Phillips is well regarded for being able to juggle multiple, disparate challenges simultaneously, while big wins like The Traitors have improved her stock in recent years. She has experience dealing with BBC scandals such as the Gregg Wallace fallout, and has commercial chops having previously worked for BBC Studios.
The BBC has been contacted for comment. UK TV trade Broadcast was first with news of Phillips’ appointment.
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