ITV Studios-Backed Poison Pen Names Fern McCauley Head of Development

The company is preparing to launch two major new dramas on ITV later this year.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:07am

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Poison Pen Studios, the ITV Studios-backed transatlantic scripted production banner founded by Ben Stephenson, has named Fern McCauley as its new head of development. McCauley previously served as the label's head of IP acquisitions and will now work with Stephenson across the London and U.S. teams to drive the development of British and American dramas.

Why it matters

Poison Pen Studios is part of ITV Studios' growing stable of world-class production companies, and McCauley's appointment signals the studio's ambitions to develop more high-end premium dramas for both the U.K. and U.S. markets. The studio is preparing to launch two major new dramas on ITV later this year, indicating its ability to deliver compelling content for traditional broadcasters as well as streaming platforms.

The details

In her new role, McCauley will work with Stephenson to develop a slate of 'poppy, authored, page-turney series' for both the U.K. and U.S. markets. Prior to joining Poison Pen, McCauley served as the first head of media development at Hachette, where she oversaw film and TV rights deals and IP development across the company's various publishing imprints. She has also worked as an associate literary agent at The Artists Partnership.

  • Fern McCauley's appointment as head of development takes effect immediately.
  • Poison Pen Studios is preparing to launch two major new dramas on ITV later this year.

The players

Poison Pen Studios

An ITV Studios-backed transatlantic scripted production banner that focuses on high-end premium drama across London and Los Angeles.

Ben Stephenson

The founder of Poison Pen Studios and a former controller of drama commissioning at the BBC.

Fern McCauley

The new head of development at Poison Pen Studios, who previously served as the label's head of IP acquisitions.

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What they’re saying

“We are now four years into Poison Pen, and with two shows under our belt, I'm excited to have Fern at the helm of development. We already have a bunch of development at FX, HBO, BBC, ITV, Netflix, Amazon and Sky, and I'm looking forward to working with Fern across our U.K. and U.S. slates to find more poppy, authored, page-turney series for both markets. Fern is an incredible and kind executive with impeccable taste, and I'm excited to start this new chapter.”

— Ben Stephenson, Founder, Poison Pen Studios

“Heading up IP Acquisitions for Poison Pen has been an amazing experience, especially seeing our first book-to-TV adaptation, The Dark, come to fruition so quickly. I'm delighted to take on the Head of Development role, helping guide Poison Pen into its next phase. Ben is a brilliant, supportive, and fun person to work for who shares my passion for finding bold stories for big audiences. We have an incredibly exciting slate of screenwriters and IP and I look forward to getting our projects onto TV screens internationally.”

— Fern McCauley, Head of Development, Poison Pen Studios

What’s next

Poison Pen Studios is preparing to launch two major new dramas on ITV later this year, including the provocative love-story drama 'Adultery' and the serial killer thriller 'The Dark'.

The takeaway

Fern McCauley's appointment as head of development at Poison Pen Studios signals the company's ambitions to expand its slate of high-end premium dramas for both the U.K. and U.S. markets, leveraging its growing roster of world-class production talent under the ITV Studios umbrella.