Warren Clarke is to join BBC Studios’ Australian production arm as Head of Scripted. The announcement comes as the studio restructures to gear up for a major push into premium scripted production in the country and capitalise on the success of its unscripted business.
Clarke, formerly Head of Scripted Development at Fremantle Australia, will be tasked with delivering scripted content with local and global appeal, including original series as well as the Australian reimagining of successful BBC Studios scripted formats.
Following a big year for unscripted commissions such as The Great Australian Bake Off, The 1% Club and The Matchmakers, Deb Spinocchia, formerly Head of Development and Content, will become Head of Unscripted. Arianna Gusi will join as Head of Production Unscripted to oversee the planning and execution of the unscripted slate.
Deb Spinocchia and Arianna Gusi
Kylie Washington, General Manager and Creative Director, Production, BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, said: “This is an exciting time for BBC Studios, we have big ambitions for the scripted side of our business with some announcements coming later this year. There is a real appetite globally for Australian produced drama. Warren’s local creative expertise, coupled with BBC Studios’ brilliant drama catalogue, international contacts and proven ability to fund content, mean we are in a great position to capitalise on that.
“Our unscripted business continues to go from strength to strength and, with a bunch of shows currently in production and several others in late development stages, it is the right time to bolster our team in that area, with a new role for Deb and the appointment of Arianna to the new post of Head of Production Unscripted. We have been growing rapidly since kicking off the production business four years ago.”
Warren Clarke said: “I’m thrilled to be joining BBC Studios ANZ. BBC Studios has a reputation for creating world-class drama. From developing premium, original shows like Time, Luther and Silent Witness to those that draw on their rich catalogue of scripted formats, with titles like Ghosts, The Office and Doctor Foster reformatted around the world, BBC Studios is synonymous with quality. Australia has a vibrant creative community and I look forward to working with the best of Australia’s scripted talent in this new role.”
During his time at Fremantle Australia, Clarke served as Executive Producer on projects including Netflix’s Wellmania and Nickelodeon’s Rock Island Mysteries. Prior to that, Clarke was Development Executive at Matchbox Pictures, where he worked across projects including Foxtel’s award-winning political drama Secret City, Rebecca Gibney’s Wanted and SBS’ Safe Harbour. Clarke was also Showrunner and Co-Creator of AACTA nominated The Heights.