BBC Hiring UK Netflix Executive Lindsay Salt for Best Drama

In a reversal of British networks’ usual executive moves for streamers, the BBC has hired Netflix writer Lindsay Salt as drama director, a role considered to be one of the most prestigious and influential in British television.

Salt replaces Piers Wenger, who left earlier this year to join the A24 as part of its major international push.

Since 2019 at Netflix, where he was part of the UK’s first writing team and co-founded a new roster with Ann Mensah, Salt’s commissions include baby deer, One day, fuck bucket, palomino s kinda bad. He also worked on shows including brooch s a crown Fifth season.

“Lindsay’s appointment heralds an exciting new era for BBC drama,” said Charlotte Moore, BBC Content Director. “He has been responsible for an impressive array of shows and his experience as a curator highlights his passion for creating biggest hits and developing new and diverse sounds.”

Moore also described Salt as an “inspiring creative leader with a great understanding of the taste of the British audience”, and added that he was “in a perfect position to lead the genre in the future with a work that will continue to overcome the limits and interrupt the main stream”.

Salt will report directly to Moore when he starts in the fall. Until then, Ben Irving will continue to serve as director.

“My time at Netflix under the generous and insightful leadership of Ann Mensah has been an absolute joy,” said Salt. “However, the opportunity to join the BBC was too special to pass up. Her dramatic shows are respected around the world and I can’t wait to build a world-class team that empowers talent and producers to create iconic shows that stand the test of time. What a privilege it is to build on that legacy and to find and nurture the story that will lead us into the BBC’s next important phase.”

Prior to joining Netflix, Salt was UK Development Director at Sky Drama, where he led the development plan for Sky One and Sky Atlantic and worked on projects ranging from: The Lazarus Project This one the third day. He began his career at Left Bank Pictures, where he worked on numerous productions and developments as a producer and script editor.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Lindsey, both here at Netflix and previously at Sky,” said Mensah, vice president of content at Netflix. “Lindsay has been instrumental in building our Netflix UK roster with fabulous commissions like One day, kinda bad s palomino. I know he will be so brilliant at the BBC and we all wish him success in his future.