| MUMBAI:
BBC has announced that Anne Mensah is to become head of independent drama.
While remaining
Head of Drama for BBC Scotland, Mensah's new role will bring together all independent
drama output under one cohesive strategy, while individual commissioners will
retain their own development slates. The
pubcaster says she will lead a much more co-ordinated approach to all development
and commissioning for the independent drama community across BBC Wales, Northern
Ireland and London indies (England) as well as Scotland. Mensah
says, "Much of the freshest and most distinctive drama of recent years has
been produced by independent drama companies. The opportunity to help support
growth and innovation in this sector is hugely exciting. I hope this new strategy
will help BBC Drama continue to go from strength to strength." BBC
Drama Commissioning controller Ben Stephenson says, "Anne's role has been
created to ensure a more strategic approach to development and production within
the indie sector and to reduce any potential overlap resulting in a more effective
process for all. Anne is a brilliant and popular advocate for drama – she
is passionate about independent drama and I know will help steer a rosy future
for BBC Drama. "The
Indie team is extraordinarily strong, led by a number of individuals with real
passion for the whole range of BBC Drama. Polly Hill, Piers Wenger and Patrick
Spence's recent track record speaks for itself – Being Human, Anne Frank,
Hustle, Five Minutes Of Heaven to name but a few." The
existing infrastructure of Commissioning Executives (Polly Hill, Sarah Brandist
and Lucy Richer – the latter two both currently on maternity leave) as well
as the Heads of Drama in the Nations (Patrick Spence, BBC Northern Ireland and
Piers Wenger, BBC Wales) remains the same. Mensah
is editorially responsible for Drama, BBC Scotland. Development for BBC Scotland
Drama will continue to be spearheaded by Anne and the executive producers in the
department. | 
