BBCS hires Rare TV creative chief for new fact ent label

BBC Studios has hired the creative director from Rare TV to launch a label within Karl Warner’s development team, Broadcast International can reveal.

Fernando de Jesus will work as part of Warner’s BBC Studios Entertainment division to create globally scalable unscripted formats and shows.

The as-yet untitled label aims to build a range of IP across entertainment, factual entertainment, game and competition.

Production will be led by Suzy Lamb’s BBC Studios Entertainment team, which is behind more than 1,000 hours of shows annually, ranging from Strictly Come Dancing to Dragons’ Den and The Weakest Link.

Distribution of IP from the new label will be via BBCS.

De Jesus joins having been behind shows including the BBC’s Trace, Track, Get My Car Back, Futureville for Ireland’s RTE and forthcoming series for Channel 4 and Disney+. He also worked on commissions for companies ranging from Tubi and Fox, to Netflix and ITV.

Prior to Rare, de Jesus was creative director at Studio Ramsay Global, working across the UK, US and Europe.

Warner’s new-look development team

De Jesus’ appointment comes just over a year since former Channel 4 exec Warner was appointed as exec vice-president of entertainment and digital development at at BBCS.

He subsequently reshuffled the single development team model to create a multi-pronged approach, hiring former ITV exec Pete Tierney in June to lead a new reality label.

De Jesus will head the entertainment and fact ent-focused label when he starts in January, while former Optomen exec Mel Bezalel was hired in May to take on a central development and design remit.

Pre-existing entertainment unit Rebel Rebel had also been due to sit within the new-look structure but founding duo Simon Shalgosky and Daniel Brookes are exiting BBCS at the end of the year to relaunch the label as Rebel Minds Media, under Sony Pictures Television.

De Jesus told Broadcast International he was “genuinely buzzing” to join Warner, Lamb “and all the brilliant minds at BBC Studios Entertainment.”

He added: “With the support of this world-class global content studio behind us, I’m excited to lead the new label and create the next wave of ambitious entertainment formats and premium mischief – all with real heart, big humour and plenty of style.”

Warner and Lamb added: “Fernando’s range – from global formats to innovative digital first content – makes him uniquely placed to build a fresh label with major creative firepower. No idea will be too big or too ambitious for our award-winning production teams – we can’t wait for him to get started.”

Commenting on his departure, Rare TV chair Alex Gardiner said: “We’ve loved working with Fernando at Rare but recognise this is an excellent opportunity for him which he should grab with both hands. We wish him every success going forward.”

A successor has been identified and is expected to start before de Jesus’s departure in January.