Hot Shots 2026: Izzy Fleming

Izzy Fleming has become integral to some of BBC World Service’s Africa Eye’s most ambitious documentaries. Working across high-risk, logistically-demanding productions, she keeps projects on track, balancing editorial priorities, budgets, locations, and team management.

Editor Tom Watson describes Izzy as “an absolute powerhouse” whose invaluable contribution can be seen on every level.

Having cut her teeth at New York’s NY1 News, Izzy relocated to London from her native US in 2020 and joined the BBC a year later.

Recently, Izzy helped deliver Africa Eye’s first reconstruction. For the doc State of Fear, she assembled actors, caterers and crew in Kenya almost overnight and kept everything moving over a two-week shoot with detailed call sheets, coordinating local crews and ensuring people were paid on time and properly supported.

On feature-length doc Surviving Biafra: Voices from the Nigeria Civil War, Izzy took on a producing role, sourcing and casting contributors, managing key relationships, organising filming in high-risk environments, and leading on complex archive requests and clearances.

Izzy has also worked on major live news events including the US elections, where she helped coordinate large teams and deliver overnight results programming to tight turnarounds.

“Izzy brings positive energy and a practical approach alongside the organisation and judgement needed to keep projects on track,” say BBC News head of business and production Beth Ambrose and production executive Nayantara Gauba in a joint statement.

“Dependable and solutions-focused, Izzy takes on complex challenges and sees them through — playing a key role in delivering high-impact journalism.”