Winstone leaves Red Planet for BBC

BBC Studios, the UK pubcaster’s fledgling TV production arm, has appointed an exec from UK production outfit Red Planet Pictures to head up its Wales-based dramas, including Doctor Who.

Simon Winstone

Simon Winstone becomes head of drama for BBC Studios in Wales on May 15 and will lead the division’s scripted and serials business in Cardiff, which has been behind War & Peace, Casualty and Russell T Davies’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Winstone will be responsible for overseeing the drama series and serials team and productions based in Cardiff, as well as seeking out new opportunities from UK and international broadcasters.

He joins from Red Planet, whose factual arm is 25% owned by BBC Worldwide, where his roles included head of drama for Wales, head of development and, most recently, executive producer. His credits include Death in Paradise, Crash, The Nativity, By Any Means, The Passing Bells, Dickensian and Hooten & the Lady.

BBC Studios director of scripted Nick Betts described Winstone as “a highly talented and experienced creative,” while Winstone said he hoped to lead his team “in developing even more compelling and outstanding drama.”

Winstone will report to Betts, who was appointed to his role last May after a tumultuous period in which a number of senior staff left the BBC’s production subsidiary, including former drama chief Mark Freeland.

Their departures followed a revamp of BBC Studios under boss Mark Linsey, who introduced a more commercial approach after taking over from Peter Salmon earlier this year when the latter moved to Endemol Shine Group.