BBC Studios Launches Scripted Fund & Hires Ben Donald

EXCLUSIVE: BBC Studios has tasked Mallorca Files EP Ben Donald with helping discover the next generation of European hits based on IP, as the producer-distributor launches a central fund for these projects.

Donald is taking on a support role with BBC Studios alongside his day-to-day duties running his Cosmopolitan Pictures indie. He will help identify scripted IP from across Europe and seek co-pro opportunities, as he looks to build relationships with writers, authors and other creative talent.

Donald is effectively taking on the gig first mentioned to Deadline earlier this year by global productions chief Matt Forde, although at that point the role was more solely focused on scouting IP. This has been expanded out somewhat.

Forde’s team oversees labels in the likes of the UK, Spain and the Nordics, where the new centralized fund has already started paying out. The fund will back the development of local projects. Forde’s team manages hit scripted formats like Ghosts in multiple territories and Forde has always been clear that he wants to unearth more shows like the hit BBC sitcom, which sold to CBS in the U.S. and is about to release a movie.

Donald will continue running Cosmopolitan Pictures alongside his BBC Studios role and we are told he has several projects in development.

A former BBC Studios exec who has also had distribution deals with BBC Studios, Donald’s credits include The Mallorca Files, Death in Paradise and Parade’s End, all of which travelled far and wide. Cosmopolitan has minority investment from Fifth Season-backed The Story Collective, which is run by some of Donald’s former colleagues at BBC Studios.

BBC Studios Productions boss Zai Bennett is speaking at MIPCOM this afternoon.