Apple TV+ Europe Commissioner Tom Williams Exits For BBC Studios Drama Productions

Jesse Whittock
·2 min read

Apple TV+ Europe commissioner Tom Williams is leaving the streamer after a year to join the expanding BBC Studios Drama Productions team.

Williams was part of Jay Hunt’s European commissioning team, having joined from indie Wall to Wall towards the end of last year. His departure runs contrary to the trend of recent years in the UK, which has broadly seen execs exiting indies and networks to join streamers.

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Williams will become Head of Development, Drama at BBC Studio Drama Productions. His prior credits include Ten Percent and The Man in the High Castle for Prime Video and The English Game for Netflix.

He takes the newly created role less than a week after it emerged Kate Oates had become Head of Drama Productions at BBC Studios, effectively replacing Priscilla Parish and making her the leader of the largest UK drama hub outside of London. Also joining is Roxanne Harvey, who is named executive producer for the long-running soap Casualty.

Williams — who will overseeing BBC Studios Drama Productions’ national development team as well as overseeing the BBC Studios writing initiatives — will report to Deborah Sathe, who was promoted to Creative Director last week.

As well as taking the helm on Casualty, Harvey develop a slate of projects for the UK and international markets.

“It is an exciting time to welcome such experienced and ambitious creatives, as we grow our own slate of shows,” said Oates. “Both Tom and Roxanne bring a wealth of experience to their new development roles.”

“BBC Studios has a long history of producing some of the best and most loved shows in the UK. and around world, so the opportunity to play a part in shaping the creative direction of this exciting new era for the studio was simply too good of an opportunity to turn down,” added Williams.

BBC Studios Drama Productions’ slate includes EastEnders, Casualty, Father Brown, Sister Boniface, River City, Pobol Y Cwm and new comedy-drama Anfamol. The unit also develops projects for the BBC and domestic and international channels and platforms and houses the BBC Studios Casting department.

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