Sarah Asante is Scripted Commissioning Editor at multi-channel broadcaster UKTV, a BBC Studios company. She is responsible for developing, commissioning and executive producing scripted Drama and Comedy for Dave and Gold.
Sarah joined UKTV in April 2021 from the BBC Comedy. Her recent UKTV commissions include Meet the Richardson’s, Sneakerhead and four comedy pilots by diverse new writers on Dave, as well as Murder They Hope and Newark, Newark on GOLD. Sarah started commissioning within BBC’s comedy team and went on to commission BAFTA-winning sketch show FAMALAM and multi-award-winning pilot Dreaming Whilst Black by Adjani Salmon in addition to short-form pilots – Coconut, Fully Blown and Behind the Filter, by Phoebe Walsh (Ted Lasso)
Before joining the BBC, Sarah spent over a decade working in commissioning teams across Factual and Entertainment at Fox International Channels, Scripps Networks, ITV and Channel 4. She is also a consultant to BAFTA Elevate, a member of the BAFTA Learning Committee and acts as lead for all new diverse writer initiatives at UKTV.
Having expanded her role beyond comedy, Sarah is helping to spearhead the launch of dramas on the DAVE channel.
Would like to meet
Commissioning priorities for GOLD + DAVE below:
GOLD
We want to reinvigorate the core “crown jewels” of our content by finding creative ways of using our archive, whilst also attracting iconic comedy talent to the channel and demonstrating our commitment to brand new scripted content. We want Gold to remain the home of the best of British archive content whilst at the same time cementing its reputation as an increasingly prolific and innovative creator of original comedy content for scripted and non-scripted. Viewers tune in for talent, much loved titles and headline grabbing ideas.
DAVE
Core areas – non-scripted
Top talent with passion projects that feel distinctive and fresh.
Archive or retrospective shows that hero the archive in unusual ways.
Top talent celebrating the best of British comedy, either with new comedic material or attention-grabbing entertainment formats.
Authored journeys with well-known gold talent.