BBC Studios is doubling down on international storytelling with a new BBC Studios scripted fund designed to uncover the next breakout European drama or comedy based on established intellectual property. The move signals a sharper strategy in the race for adaptable, exportable TV ideas, with veteran producer Ben Donald brought in to help spot high-potential projects across the continent.
For the global TV business, this is more than a routine development announcement. It shows how major studios are increasingly looking to European IP, local creative partnerships and cross-border co-productions to build the next Ghosts-style success story.
BBC Studios scripted fund puts European IP at the center
The newly launched BBC Studios scripted fund will support the development of local scripted projects emerging from BBC Studios labels in markets including the UK, Spain and the Nordics. Rather than waiting for finished concepts to surface, the company is creating a centralized pool of backing that can nurture ideas earlier and more strategically.
The fund is focused on projects rooted in IP, a term that covers source material such as novels, short stories, articles, formats and other adaptable creative works. In today’s content economy, recognizable IP offers a major advantage:
- Built-in audience awareness
- Stronger international sales potential
- More confidence for co-financing partners
- Clearer adaptation pathways across territories
BBC Studios has already seen the value of this approach through scripted formats that travel well. The standout example remains Ghosts, the British comedy hit that successfully expanded into the U.S. via CBS and continues to grow as a broader franchise.
Why Ben Donald is a key choice for the BBC Studios scripted fund
To help drive the BBC Studios scripted fund, BBC Studios has tasked Ben Donald with identifying promising scripted IP from across Europe while exploring co-production opportunities. Donald will do this alongside his ongoing work running Cosmopolitan Pictures, his independent production company.
Donald brings a strong mix of production, distribution and international relationship-building experience. His credits include:
- The Mallorca Files
- Death in Paradise
- Parade’s End
Those titles share one important trait: they have traveled well beyond their original markets. That matters because the BBC Studios scripted fund is not simply about finding good stories; it is about finding stories with the potential to resonate across borders.
Donald’s remit appears broader than an earlier version of the role discussed publicly this year, which was described more narrowly as scouting IP. Now, the job also includes helping build relationships with writers, authors and other creative talent, while looking for collaboration opportunities that can turn local concepts into pan-European or global productions.
A bridge between local creators and global buyers
Donald’s background makes him well suited to act as a connector between source material, producers and distribution networks. He is a former BBC Studios executive and has also worked with the company through distribution arrangements, giving him insight into both the creative and commercial sides of television development.
That kind of hybrid expertise is increasingly valuable as studios seek projects that can work at multiple levels: critically, culturally and commercially.
What this means for European TV production
The BBC Studios scripted fund reflects a wider shift in the market. Broadcasters, streamers and production groups are under pressure to find fewer but bigger ideas—stories with distinct local identity and international appeal. Europe has become a particularly fertile territory for that strategy.
Several industry trends help explain the timing:
- Adaptable IP is in demand: Studios want concepts that can become remakes, spin-offs or multi-market franchises.
- Co-productions reduce risk: Shared financing and access to regional incentives make ambitious scripted projects more viable.
- Local authenticity travels: Distinctive settings and culturally specific storytelling can stand out in a crowded global market.
- Distribution matters as much as development: A strong project needs a path to international audiences from day one.
By backing development at a central level, BBC Studios can potentially move faster on promising projects and align local labels with a broader global strategy. That could mean more early-stage support for writers and rights holders, and more structured pathways for turning books, articles or original concepts into screen-ready series.
The search for the next “Ghosts”
BBC Studios global productions leadership has made clear that it wants more breakthrough titles with the scale and flexibility of Ghosts. That series proved a locally developed comedy can become an international scripted format, opening doors in multiple territories and extending the life of the original idea.
The BBC Studios scripted fund appears designed to replicate that kind of success by identifying adaptable stories before competitors do. In practical terms, that means looking beyond obvious bestsellers and into underexploited European material that could become premium scripted television.
Industry context: strategy, scale and talent relationships
The initiative also says something important about how large production groups are evolving. Development is no longer just a creative process; it is a strategic function tied closely to rights management, market intelligence and partnership-building.
Under the structure overseen by BBC Studios executives, labels across different European regions can benefit from centralized support while still developing projects with local relevance. That balance is crucial. Audiences increasingly want stories that feel specific rather than generic, but buyers also want concepts that can travel.
For writers, authors and rights owners, the BBC Studios scripted fund may create a more direct route into international television. For producers, it offers potential access to financing and distribution muscle earlier in the process.
And for viewers, it may eventually mean more European series with strong source material, bigger ambition and wider release prospects.
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Conclusion
The BBC Studios scripted fund is a smart and timely bet on the future of European television. By combining early-stage investment, a focus on adaptable IP and Ben Donald’s cross-border experience, BBC Studios is positioning itself to discover the next generation of scripted hits before they become obvious targets. In a global market hungry for distinctive stories with franchise potential, the BBC Studios scripted fund could become a powerful engine for turning local European ideas into international TV events.
