Screen Yorkshire Board Member Sarah Doole Passes Away

Producer, Creative Entrepreneur and Passionate Advocate for Under-Represented Industry Talent

Screen Yorkshire is heartbroken to share news of the passing of hugely respected industry luminary and board member Sarah Doole, who died last month aged 63. A talented and prolific TV & Film Drama executive and inventive creative, Sarah served diligently on Screen Yorkshire’s Board of Directors from 2012 – 2023.

Sarah was also a member of Screen Yorkshire’s Investment Committee, where her wisdom, combined with a great depth of knowledge and understanding of TV Production, helped to make our Yorkshire Content Fund the success it is today.

Sarah Doole

Sarah’s illustrious career saw her kickstart Fremantle’s scripted expansion a decade ago, leading to hits such as the Deutschland trilogy, My Brilliant Friend, Beecham House, Picnic At Hanging Rock and The Salisbury Poisonings.

The news of Sarah’s passing was announced this week by Anton, who hired her last year as creative director to oversee its push into production, after she stepped down as CEO at Red Production Company. Sarah had also been creative director of drama & head of indie drama for BBC Worldwide, with credits on Sherlock, Gavin & Stacey and Call The Midwife, among numerous others and also worked as Creative Mentor at Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund.

I first worked with Sarah in the 80s, when she was a rising star at Yorkshire Television in Leeds; it was clear that she was hugely talented, driven and on the cusp of a brilliant career. Sarah maintained a fantastic reputation throughout her working life and I felt hugely privileged when she joined our Board of Directors in 2012. Along with the rest of The Board and Screen Yorkshire’s wider team, I am deeply saddened by the loss of such a guiding light for the industry and our hearts are with all her loved ones. Sarah's passing is a huge loss and she will be greatly missed.

John Surtees, Chair at Screen Yorkshire

A Passionate Creative, Who Supported Rising Industry Talent and Advocated for Change

Sarah worked across a diverse range of mediums, including TV, film, podcast, music, literature, art and fashion. She was incredibly passionate about supporting under-represented talent and founded Sow the Seed in 2022, a unique incubator company, both focused on levelling the playing field and championing up and coming talent.

Sarah passed on her experience to the next generation of talent with generosity, warmth and integrity, breaking down barriers to rising stars from marginalised backgrounds and igniting many rewarding careers. She had a huge impact at a local and global level and her legacy will continue to shape the future of our screen industries and workforce for many years to come.

Sarah passed away on Monday, 15 January, surrounded by her family and loved ones, following a battle with breast cancer.