EXCLUSIVE: There’s another Brit leading the unscripted charge at Fox.
Sophie Leonard, creator of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, has joined the network as EVP, Unscripted.
The appointment comes after the recent departure of Yasmin Rawji, who held the same role, as revealed by Deadline. Leonard is the latest Brit to move into commissioning in the U.S. after former Objective Media and Channel 4 exec Jilly Pearce landed a similar role at ABC and Hulu last year.
She will report to Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network, who oversees both scripted and unscripted programming.
Leonard joins from Samphire Films, the production company she co-founded with David Hodgkinson in 2024 and landed investment from BBC Studios last year. She will lead the creative strategy, development, and production of Fox’s unscripted slate with a focus on “scalable competition formats, breakthrough social experiments, and returnable event series”.
Fox is one of the biggest buyers of unscripted series in the market; its slate currently comprises of shows such as The Masked Singer, The Floor, Beat Shazam, Don’t Forget The Lyrics, Kitchen Nightmares, Lego Masters, Next Level Chef, Farmer Wants A Wife and Fear Factor: House of Fear.
She previously worked as Creative Director of British indie Minnow Films, which is behind Channel 4 series SAS: Who Dares Wins and its celebrity spinoff. Leonard joined Minnow in 2016 to look after SAS, developing Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and then turning it into Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which has aired four seasons on Fox.
Leonard’s other credits include BBC’s The Apprentice and Channel 4’s First Dates as well as Netflix doc hits Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal and Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action.
“Sophie is an exceptional creative leader with fearless instincts, global perspective, and a proven ability to deliver bold, high-impact unscripted entertainment,” said Thorn. “As one of the creators and executive producers behind Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, her impact on the series is as undeniable as the many ambitious ideas she’s introduced through our partnership, and in her new role, we’ll build on that collaborative moment as we deliver on our unscripted strategy and continue to grow the Fox brand.”
“Joining Fox in this role is an extraordinary opportunity,” added Leonard. “What Rob, Michael, and the team have built is genuinely one of the most exciting growth stories anywhere in the television business right now. The scale of ambition, creative freedom, and the speed at which Fox is moving is incredibly energizing. I’m thrilled to bring my experience across the Atlantic, deepen the relationships we’ve already built, and work with the extraordinary producers and partners here in the U.S. and around the world to develop bold, Fox-worthy unscripted programming that truly travels.”