BBC loots Netflix manager who worked on The Crown to become the new drama director
- Lindsay Salt becomes BBC Director of Drama – one of TV’s most prominent jobs
- She previously worked on Netflix’s season five of The Crown and on Sky Drama
- In a statement, she said the chance to work at the BBC was ‘too special to ignore’
- It comes after BBC Drama executive Mona Qureshi went to Netflix this year
The BBC has hired Netflix‘s scripted executive Lindsay Salt to serve as the public broadcaster’s new Director of Drama – widely regarded as one of the most prominent jobs on British TV.
Ms Salt, who has helmed Netflix shows including Half Bad, One Day and worked on the hit series The Crown, will replace Piers Wenger, who left the BBC earlier this year to join Hollywood indie studio A24 as part of a major international push.
Ms. Salt also worked on Heartstopper and season five of The Crown series, due out in November this year.
Lindsay Salt (pictured) becomes the new drama director of the public broadcaster
Her streaming service assignments, which she joined in 2019, also include Baby Reindeer, Palomino and The F*** it Bucket.
Before joining Netflix, she was Head of Development for Sky’s drama team, where she oversaw the development of Sky One and Sky Atlantic. Her work includes The Lazarus Project and The Third Day.
It is believed she will report directly to Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer at the BBC, and lead the drama commissioning team.
Her new role will start in the fall. In the meantime, Ben Irving, who had tipped many in the British drama community for the top job, will continue as acting director.
The appointment marks a big win for the BBC and is a rare occasion where a public broadcaster has picked up streaming talent.
In general, this was usually the opposite. Earlier this year, BBC drama executive Mona Qureshi was picked up by Netflix to join the script series team.
In a statement, BBC content chief Charlotte Moore said: “Lindsay’s appointment heralds an exciting new era for BBC Drama.
“She has been responsible for an impressive array of shows and her track record as a commissioner underscores her passion for creating big hits and developing new and diverse voices.
At Netflix she worked on season five of the hit series of the streaming service The Crown
“She is an inspiring creative leader with a sophisticated understanding of British public tastes, placing her in the perfect position to lead the genre into the future with work that will continue to push the boundaries and disrupt the mainstream.
“BBC Drama is in excellent shape and she has ambitious plans to develop the creative strategy and build her own distinctive slate that is unique to the BBC and especially relevant to UK audiences in a fiercely competitive global landscape.”
In her own statement, Ms Salt added: “My time at Netflix under the generous and visionary direction of Anne Mensah has been a total joy.
However, the opportunity to join the BBC was too special to ignore. Drama programming is revered around the world and I can’t wait to get started with the world-class team, empowering talent and producers to create iconic shows that stand the test of time.
“What a privilege to build on that legacy and find and cherish the stories that will lead us into the next pivotal phase of the BBC.”