BBC Studios forms new unit for Strictly Come Dancing, Glastonbury

BBC Studios has formed a new division for British entertainment, led by Suzy Lamb. Variety has learned.

The new unit comes after Studios, the BBC’s commercial arm that produces content sold around the world, merged its entertainment/music and factual entertainment/events divisions, which produced content including the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, the King’s coronation celebration Charles III and shows like “Strictly Come Dancing” and “The Weakest Link.”

By spinning off the UK entertainment business, the aim is to allow Lamb and her team to focus more efficiently on the development/production/format sales pipeline. Lamb, who previously served as director of entertainment and music, will oversee creative, commercial and operational strategy. She will report to Matt Forde, head of BBC Studios’ global entertainment operations.

Shows the new British division will produce include the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage, “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Alison Hammond’s Big Weekend.”

Lamb has been with Studios since 2018, prior to which she was head of entertainment at talkbackThames, where she oversaw shows including ‘Take Me Out’ with Paddy McGuinness and ‘All Star Family Fortunes’. Previously, she worked at the BBC and spent two years at NBC in LA

Katie Brewer, currently production director for factual entertainment and events, in which capacity she oversaw “Dragon’s Den” and Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, among others, will become production director of the new UK entertainment unit. Before joining Studios in 2021, Brewer worked at Banijay’s RDF, where she was director of production for a group of labels.

“The global entertainment market continues to evolve rapidly and the new UK entertainment unit will be the centerpiece of our global entertainment division, driving growth and building on the incredible success of existing titles,” Forde said. “I am curious to see what they will create and realize under Suzy’s leadership.”

Lamb added: “I am really looking forward to leading the new UK entertainment division. With a thriving slate already in place and many new formats coming through the pipeline, it’s a truly exciting time for BBC Studios.