BBC Studios Americas Names Former Univision PR Chief Rosemary Mercedes Head of Communications

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios, Screenplay, Disney Plus Hotstar Pact for “Doctor Foster” Indonesian AdaptationBBC Studios property “Doctor Foster” is being adapted by Screenplay Films for Disney Plus Hotstar in Indonesia. “Doctor Foster” is the story of a doctor whose life implodes when she uncovers her husband’s infidelity. The show title in Indonesia will be “Mendua” (Between Two Hearts) and Pritagita Arianegara (“Surga yang Tak Dirindukan 3”) will direct.

EXCLUSIVE: BBC Studios has optioned the Eve Stranger comic book series and is developing into a TV show.

Discovery Italy To Adapt BBC Studios Formats ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’ And This Is MY House’

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios’ BAFTA nominated amateur sewing competition format “The Great Sewing Bee” from Love Productions and “This is MY House,” the guessing game from Expectation, will be adapted for Discovery in Italy.The six-part Italian version of “The Great Sewing Bee,” is produced locally by Blu Yazmine and will stream air on Discovery June in June, followed by Real Time in the fall. Known locally as “Tailor Made – Chi ha la stoffa?,” the competition hosted by Tommaso Zorzi follows a group of competitors who will race against the clock in three sewing challenges each week in a bid to be crowned the country’s best amateur sewer.

“Historic Collaboration” From India’s Zee And Mexico’s TelevisaUnivision

NEW YORK -- David Hyde Pierce returns to TV this spring playing a familiar part — an erudite man who adores fine food, wine and art. But this has nothing to do with “Frasier.”Pierce is playing Peter Child, husband and chief cheerleader of Julia Child, whose warbling, encouraging voice and able hands brought the intricacies of French cuisine to American home cooks through her TV series and books.“These are two people of great depth, of great complexity of character, who found each other, and I think we all are luckier for it,” said Pierce.

Naman Ramachandran BBC Studios, the commercial arm of U.K. broadcaster BBC, has revealed a first look and development deal with London-based talent and entertainment company Diving Bell Group.Founded by Kim Butler and Justin Girdler in 2017, Diving Bell represents creators and innovators in the purpose-led space including model, trans activist and cultural figure Munroe Bergdorf; feminist author, illustrator and influencer Florence Given (“Women Don’t Owe You Pretty,” “Octopus”); Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal; and Emma Gannon whose careers podcast “Ctrl Alt Delete” has amassed over 10 million downloads.The deal gives BBC Studios a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell clients for the purpose of collaborating to develop these ideas and pitch for commissions.

BBC Studios has struck a first look and development deal with Diving Bell Group, the talent agency that represents the likes of trans activist Munroe Bergdorf and feminist author Florence Given.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterPaige Olson has been named chief counsel of Disney Studios Content, Variety has learned exclusively.A 25-year Disney veteran, Olson will succeed longtime studio general counsel Steve Bardwil when he retires at the end of March. She will lead the division’s legal affairs team, and report to Disney Studios chairman Alan Bergman and Walt Disney Company general counsel and secretary Horacio Gutierrez.Disney Studios Content encompasses all of the company’s marquee content engines, including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures.

EXCLUSIVE: BBC Studios and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment-backed Screen Media have struck a multi-year deal for 2,500 hours of content including BBC dramas Ripper Street, Happy Valley and Silent Witness.

Hugh Grant is in secret talks to play Doctor Who in a daring BBC move to rebuild ratings.

Joe Leydon Film CriticIt may sound counterintuitive at best, tone-deaf at worse, to label a documentary focused on food providers aiding people in the wake of disasters as a feel-good movie. But that’s an honest, accurate and, yes, appreciative label for “We Feed People,” Ron Howard’s technically polished and emotionally stirring close-up view of celebrity chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen.The movie effectively begins in media res, with the robustly gregarious Andrés and his dedicated crew  years into their vocation, providing hot meals to isolated residents of Wilmington, N.C., in the wake of 2018’s Hurricane Florence — and coming perilously close to tasting their own disaster when floodwaters almost topple their delivery truck — before backing up to explain just who Andrés is and what started him on his mission.A native of Spain, Andrés moved to the U.S.

Angelique Jackson UTA has named Carmen Bona its chief strategy and corporate development officer.Bona will be based at UTA’s Beverly Hills headquarters, joining the global talent, entertainment and sports company as a partner. She will report to CEO Jeremy Zimmer.“Carmen’s wide-ranging experience helping media and entertainment companies navigate big change will be an enormous asset to UTA as we enter the next chapter of our diversification and growth,” stated Zimmer, announcing the hire.

National Geographic has signed up BBC Studios’ Factual boss Tom McDonald, the exec and commissioner behind some of the UK’s biggest natural history series including Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II.

Sharon Horgan & Michael Sheen To Lead Jack Thorne’s ‘Best Interests’

A slight executive shift here at Amazon Studios as Movies Co-Head Matt Newman goes to Prime Video’s global Sports group to develop sports docuseries, movies and scripted fare. Julie Rapaport will remain Amazon’s Head of Movies.

Two family dramas, the feature film Freda and short film You Can Always Come Home, have earned the top prizes at the 39th edition of Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival. Presented in a hybrid format with in-theater and virtual presentations, the 2022 Festival ran from March 4 through tomorrow.

Sky Studios, the original programming arm of broadcaster Sky in Europe, has bolstered its UK Drama Commissioning team with a pair of hires.

ScreenSkills Invests £10M In UK High-End TV