EXCLUSIVE: The BBC‘s pure historical past chief is swapping commissioning for program-making by taking over a newly-created function on the fabled BBC Studios Pure Historical past Unit (NHU).
Sreya Biswas, whose credit embody Planet Earth III, Asia and Kingdom, will develop into NHU Director of Programmes over the summer season. She is going to proceed to ship BBC tasks for the subsequent few months and particulars on her substitute will come sooner or later.
Reporting into NHU head Jonny Keeling and dealing intently with vet Inventive Director Mike Gunton, she might be tasked with delivering commissioned titles from the NHU slate and growing a portfolio of latest reveals for the BBC and past.
Biswas will be part of after a three-year stint as Head of Commissioning for Pure Historical past on the BBC, throughout which era she has labored throughout blue-chips together with Planet Earth III and Blue Planet III, together with lighter-touch fare like Massive Cats 24/7 and Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles. She just lately chatted with Deadline about drawing inspiration from blockbuster films and AI for the subsequent technology of pure historical past reveals. She has additionally been sincere of late about market saturation in pure historical past and the necessity to innovate with the intention to get reveals commissioned.
Sreya Biswas
As one of many BBC pure historical past commissioning group’s most trusted purchasers, Biswas might be a lot acquainted with the NHU, though the BBC Studios unit has made reveals for extra than simply the BBC together with Netflix, NBC, Apple TV+ and Nat Geo since BBC Studios turned a industrial outfit. Headquartered in Bristol, the NHU is a world-renowned division that’s entrusted with the most important pure historical past explorations. At a time of American contraction, it’s notable that the NHU is increasing its senior group, though final 12 months it did make layoffs.
Keeling known as the Biswas rent “extremely thrilling.” “Her function might be pivotal in diversifying the NHU’s slate, profitable new enterprise, while sustaining our world repute for much-loved, bold, blue-chip programming,” he added.
Biswas stated: “The NHU’s lengthy historical past of world class programming has impressed folks around the globe. To be a part of the evolution of the unit and style, taking it in new and thrilling instructions and rising alternatives, whereas sustaining the superb coronary heart of the NHU might be an actual privilege.”
