Jane Tranter, the powerhouse producer behind “Industry” and “Doctor Who”, has a message for television executives in uncertain times: do the exact opposite of what everyone else is doing. Speaking at Rome’s MIA Market on Tuesday, the Bad Wolf CEO and co-founder told European producers that survival comes from “going in the opposite direction of everyone else’s traffic.”
Jane Tranter at MIA Market 2026 in Rome (Credits: Variety)
“If everyone else is zigging, you zag. Because at some point, they’re going to want your zag because they’ve run out of zigs,” Tranter said. “We have to be ready for it.”
A Career Built on Going Against the Grain
Tranter has made going against the grain her signature. As CEO and co-founder of Bad Wolf, she has produced internationally acclaimed titles including the HBO/BBC financial thriller “Industry”, the hit “Succession”, and the long-running “Doctor Who”.
MIA — the Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo, promoted by ANICA and APA — has brought the international film and audiovisual industry to central Rome for its 2026 edition, with Tranter among the first international guests announced for its exclusive fireside chats, alongside CANAL+ deputy CEO Anna Marsh and director Edward Berger.
Centering Women, Telling Stories That Matter
Beyond business strategy, Tranter spoke about the kind of stories she champions: ones that center women and tell stories about “people being accepted for who they choose to be.” It’s a philosophy that has run through her work — from the complicated, morally complex characters of “Industry” to the reinvented world of “Doctor Who.”
Tranter’s stance has long favored strong scripts and compelling characters over trend-chasing. “Tell the truth, even if that truth is sometimes unpalatable,” she has said of her company’s approach to making television — a principle she credits with attracting top talent and delivering quality productions.
With the industry in flux, her advice to producers was simple: don’t follow the crowd. The zigs will run out — and that’s when the zags win.
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Source: Variety — read the full story there.
