BBC’s Stephenson eyes US move

BBC drama boss Ben Stephenson could be set to leave the UK pubcaster and is said to be eyeing up a potential move to the US.

Ben Stephenson

Stephenson has been controller of drama commissioning at the BBC since 2008, after replacing Jane Tranter, and has been behind ratings winners such as Sherlock, Death in Paradise and Wolf Hall.

He has also worked closely with US broadcasters and prodcos on the likes of The Honourable Woman, a coproduction between the BBC and SundanceTV, as well as upcoming epic War & Peace, which is being produced with The Weinstein Company.

However, C21 understands he is now looking to the US for a move, with JJ Abrams’ US production outfit Bad Robot his likely destination, where he could oversee international coproductions. A deal has yet to be agreed.

Stephenson is also working as an exec producer on Anthony Hopkins-starring drama The Dresser, which is being produced for the BBC and US cablenet Starz, another potential destination for the exec.

Stephenson and the BBC signed a multi-year partnership with Starz to develop and produce shows in 2011, and the two broadcasters worked together on series, including abduction drama The Missing.

A BBC spokeswoman refused to comment on the speculation, which was first broken by UK trade magazine Broadcast.