Doctor Who co-producer Bad Wolf and the BBC Studios Glasgow-based fact ent division behind Dragon's Den have both signed execs in new production chief roles.
Emily Russell has joined Sony Pictures-owned Bad Wolf as director of production, having previously been head of production at New Pictures, where she oversaw series such as BBC1’s Champion and Channel 5’s Dalgliesh.
She will work across Bad Wolf’s portfolio of productions shot at the His Dark Materials producer’s Cardiff-based Wolf Studios Wales and on location.
Bad Wolf's current projects include the next incarnation of Doctor Who, produced with BBC Studios and backed by both the BBC and Disney, plus ITV series Red Eye and The Winter King.
In her senior management role, Russell will work closely with its established team of chief executive Jane Tranter, director of content Dan McCulloch, director of finance (and acting chief operating officer) Mary Furlong and head of business affairs Beth Wyllie.
McCulloch hailed Russell’s track record in large-scale drama production, adding: “She has built her career up, from the production office to the very top of the industry – her dedication and expertise to production has seen some of the best quality UK TV drama has to offer.
“As Bad Wolf moves into a new period of expansion and growth, we wanted someone experienced and ambitious for this new role who understands the DNA of high-end TV drama to build the production slate and be part of the management team to create, innovate and oversee expansion into new areas for the business.”
Prior to her three years at All3Media-owned New Pictures, Russell was a production executive at ITV Studios label Mammoth Screen, where she worked on ITV’s Endeavour and BBC series The Serpent and War of the Worlds.
She has previously worked as a freelance line producer on shows such as BBC1’s Doctor Foster and Waterloo Road.
BBC Studios
Meanwhile, Broadcast is reporting that Sandy Robertson will lead production management teams in a newly-created head of production role at BBC Studios’ fact ent division.
She previously spent 12 years at Glasgow-based Raise the Roof, where she executive produced series such as Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, which Channel 4 is resting this year, as well as Holiday Homes in the Sun and Escape to the Farm with Kate Humble.
The BBCS unit’s creative director Adeline Ramage Rooney said Robertson would bring “a powerful combination of experience, strategic thinking and bold ambition” to a slate that currently includes Dragon’s Den, Antiques Roadshow, Countryfile and Channel 5’s Lost Dogs: Live.
Raise the Roof has promoted production executive Ali Roberts to head of production following Robertson's production.
