The BBC’s director of unscripted has defended the corporation against claims that it is shutting out new content ideas by rebooting TV shows in its primetime schedule.
Kate Phillips’ commissioning team has ordered revivals of shows including Gladiators, Survivor, and The Weakest Link in recent years, sparking allegations that the BBC is increasingly reticent to take risks on fresh formats.
Phillips said BBC commissioners don’t “instinctively” want to dust off old shows, but reboots have an important place in the broadcaster’s schedule.
She said revivals represent just 1% of the 3,000 hours of content her unit greenlights every year. “I’m going to make no apologies for bringing back Gladiators and Survivor because they were really good pitches and I think they are going to be really big shows,” she told the Edinburgh TV Festival.
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