The following article is written from an Out of Universe perspective. |
The Franchise Executive or the executive supervisor is an uncredited job-title, which has been given, officially, to a leading member of the Doctor Who Production Staff, since it's creation in 2011. While the title is uncredited on-screen, the holder is given the credit of an executive producer instead.
The role undertaken by the Franchise Executive had previously been handled by the producer, executive producer, or the showrunner of Doctor Who. Former Doctor Who staff members, such as Verity Lambert, Barry Letts, John Nathan-Turner, David Renwick and Gary Russell, to name just a few, could all have been considered to have fulfilled the position.
The job itself, involved overlooking the Doctor Who franchise, in general, not just the main show, but also spinoffs and movies, as well as any other licensed content or merchandise.
History
The reason the position became official in 2011, was due to the fact that Doctor Who would be taking a break, itself, in 2012 and 2013, and between two production teams. Ira Steven Behr was selected by the BBC and CBS as the first Franchise Executive, to guide the franchise between the transition from Chapters 3 and 4, including supervising Panopticon seasons 5-7, the entirety of Cold Front, as well as both Doctor Who: Endgame and Doctor Who: Genesis. When the new Chapter Four production team began work in 2013, Ira Steven Behr was asked to stay on, although he only remained in the job until 2015. The position was then filled by Moore himself, officially, supervising Doctor Who, the Elysium and any other projects in development.
List of Franchise Executives
Name | Years | Projects Overseen |
---|---|---|
Ira Steven Behr | 2011-2015 | Doctor Who: Endgame, Panopticon Series 5, Cold Front Season 1, Panopticon Series 6, Cold Front Season 2, Panopticon Series 7, Doctor Who: Genesis, Doctor Who Season 49 |
Ronald D. Moore | 2015-2017 | The Elysium Season 1, Doctor Who Season 50, The Elysium Season 2, Doctor Who Season 51, The Elysium Season 3, Doctor Who Season 52: Part One |
Jane Espenson | 2017- | Doctor Who Season 52, The Elysium Season 4, Dokter Wie Season 1, Doctor Who: Until the World Ends, Doctor Who Season 53 Doctor Misterio Season 1, Doctor Who: Through Time and Space Season 1, Mysteriet Doktorn Season 1, The Elysium Season 5, Dokter Wie Season 2, Doctor Who Season 54, Doctor Who: The New Renegade Season 1, Doctor Who: Adventures Season 1 |