Christine Langan (born January 1965) is an English film producer who was appointed Head of BBC Films in 2009. In 2016, she left the role to become CEO of comedy television production company Baby Cow Productions.
After graduating from Cambridge University in 1987 and working in advertising for three years, Langan joined Granada Television's drama serials department where she served as a script editor for daytime soap operas. She later transferred to Granada's newly created comedy department, where she developed the acclaimed television series Cold Feet, and other one-off comedies. In 2000, she left Granada to become a freelance producer and produced the romantic comedy series Rescue Me for the BBC. She returned to Granada in 2002, producing acclaimed dramas such as The Deal (2003) and Dirty Filthy Love (2004). She made her feature film production debut on Pierrepoint (2005), earning a Carl Foreman Award nomination at the 60th British Academy Film Awards. Langan also produced The Queen (2006) for Granada, which won the BAFTA Award for Best Film and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
In 2006, Langan became an executive producer at BBC Films, developing features such as The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and The Duchess (2008). In April 2009, she was appointed Creative Director of BBC Films, giving her control of a £12 million annual budget and which projects are commissioned for development. By 2010, Langan had led BBC Films to a record 13 nominations at the British Academy Film Awards, which included In the Loop (2009), Fish Tank (2009) and An Education (2009).
Langan lives in London with her partner, the writer Christian Spurrier, and their two children.
Background Christine Langan was born in January 1965 in Edmonton, London, England.Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005. 5e: p. 450. Her mother and father, a dinner lady and a bricklayer respectively, already had three children. Growing up, Langan became interested in television production after seeing Lew Grade's name in the credits of several programmes.Manzoor, Sarfraz (27 February 2007). "The power behind the throne". The Guardian (Guardian News & Media): p. 1 (MediaGuardian section). She attended a Catholic grammar school and read English at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge."Christine Langan". PFD. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
After graduating from Cambridge University in 1987, Langan spent three years working as a copywriter for an advertising company.Macnab, Geoffrey (12 November 2009). "In the loop" (subscription access). Screen International (Emap Media). Retrieved on 20 February 2010. She also contributed film reviews to BBC Radio 2's Cinema 2 programme. In 1990, Langan began her career in film production as an assistant developer for Tessa Ross at British Screen. The following year, she responded to an advertisement for a script editor at Granada Television's drama serials department, located in Manchester. She was hired by David Liddiment, and worked mainly on Granada's daytime soap operas.
Career
Granada comedy In 1993, Langan returned to London to work for Andy Harries at Granada's newly created comedy department, where she script-edited September Song, the television adaptation of An Evening with Gary Lineker, and the second series of Rik Mayall Presents. In 1995, she was associate producer on The Perfect Match, a one-off comedy drama written by former BBC radio producer Mike Bullen. The Perfect Match was broadcast in September 1995, and shortly afterwards, Harries asked Langan to develop more ideas from Bullen.Smith, Rupert (2003). Cold Feet: The Complete Companion. London: Granada Media. p. 60. .
They devised Cold Feet, another one-off comedy drama based on the love lives of Bullen himself and his friends. Langan produced Cold Feet, guiding Bullen through his script drafts, and hiring Father Ted director Declan Lowney to shoot it.Smith (2003), p. 62. Cold Feet was broadcast in March 1997 as one of four Comedy Premieres on ITV (two others of which Langan script edited). It received poor ratings and little critical reaction. However, in May 1997, it won the Rose d'Or at the Montreux International Television Festival. ITV Network Centre commissioned a series of Cold Feet in August, which Langan also produced.Smith, Christine (15 August 1997). "Cold Feet heads up triple commission for Granada". Broadcast (Emap Business): p. 2. For the series, Langan tried to achieve a written and visual style that differed from regular sitcoms by avoiding "one-liners and quick laughs" and hiring directors who had done little television work before.Carter, Meg (9 November 1998). "On Air: Our friends in the North". The Independent (Independent News & Media): pp. 18–19 (Arts supplement).Langan, Christine. (2003). Cold Feet: The Final Call. [Documentary]. Granada Television. Cold Feet premiered as a series in November 1998, and Langan stayed until the third series in 2000. She and Bullen received a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2000."Television Nominations, 2000". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved on 19 February 2010. Also in 1998, Langan worked on her first feature film, script editing the Parker Posey-led The Misadventures of Margaret.
In 1999, Langan was made an executive producer in the department. She oversaw several productions, including Passion Killers (1999, starring Ben Miller), Safe as Houses (2000, starring Ricky Tomlinson), and the pilot episode of David Nicholls' I Saw You (2000, starring Paul Rhys and Fay Ripley). In 2000, Langan was offered a position at the BBC's drama department, which had been rearranged that year. The trade magazine Broadcast reported the BBC had made a "substantial offer" to her.Conlan, Tara; Colin Robertson (15 September 2000). "BBC steps up raid on Granada drama". Broadcast (Emap Media). Granada's director of programmes Grant Mansfield countered the BBC's bid by offering Langan the position of deputy controller of drama, operating under Andy Harries, who had recently been appointed controller of the same department.Staff (19 September 2000). "Harris To Control Granada Drama ". 4rfv.co.uk. Retrieved on 29 August 2007. Langan accepted neither offer, and instead became a freelance producer after her contract with Granada expired.
As a freelancer, Langan developed three more episodes of I Saw You for Granada. Her only other project was producing David Nicholls' romantic comedy series Rescue Me with Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC One. As well as producing it, she made her credited directorial debut on the final episode. The six-part series, starring Sally Phillips, was broadcast in 2002. It was not a ratings success, and the BBC did not commission a second series.Deans, Jason (14 May 2002). "BBC decides not to rescue Sally Phillips drama". Media Guardian (Guardian News & Media). Retrieved on 10 April 2008.
Granada drama In September 2002, Langan signed a new contract to develop new projects at Granada's combined drama, film and comedy department.Cozens, Claire (12 September 2002). "Langan returns to ITV with comedy brief". Media Guardian (Guardian News & Media). Retrieved 10 April 2008. Her first production was the romantic comedy television film Watermelon, starring Anna Friel. At the end of 2002, she began developing Peter Morgan's The Deal, a dramatisation of the political rise of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Although initially giving full backing, the ITV network backed out during pre-production. Channel 4 picked up the film from Granada, and it was broadcast in September 2003.Deans, Jason (16 September 2003). "ITV dropped drama 'for political reasons'". Media Guardian (Guardian News & Media). Retrieved 10 April 2008. The Deal was presented with the British Academy Television Award for Best Single Drama in 2004."Television Nominations, 2003". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved on 19 February 2010. The same year, she produced the one-off drama Dirty Filthy Love, which was also nominated for the BAFTA for Best Single Drama."Television Nominations, 2004". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved on 19 February 2010.
In 2005, Langan's feature debut Pierrepoint was released at major film festivals. Based on the life of British hangman Albert Pierrepoint (played by Timothy Spall), Pierrepoint got Langan a nomination for the Carl Foreman Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the 60th British Academy Film Awards in 2007."Film Nominations, 2006". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved on 19 February 2010. 2006 saw the theatrical release of The Queen, a feature film follow-up to The Deal, that focused on the impact the death of Diana, Princess of Wales had on Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth II. Michael Sheen reprised his role as Tony Blair from The Deal, and Helen Mirren played Elizabeth. The film was produced by Granada in co-operation with the ITV network, and was released in late 2006 to critical acclaim. In 2007, it won the BAFTA Award for Best Film and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Of Langan's work on Pierrepoint and The Queen, a Variety writer said, "both pics are a tribute to her tactful skill at working with tricky but talented writers and directors to take stories that could easily have been confined to the small screen and give them real cinematic depth and breadth".Staff (2 February 2007). "Carl Foreman Award Nominees Best Newcomer". Variety (Reed Business Information). Retrieved on 29 August 2007.
BBC Films In September 2006, Langan made a low-key departure from Granada to take up a position as an executive producer with BBC Films.BBC Press Office (10 May 2006). "Award-winning producer Christine Langan joins BBC Films". Press release. Retrieved on 29 August 2007. Although approached to join BBC Films some years before, only in 2007 did she feel it was the time to "concentrate more exclusively on film".Mitchell, Wendy (9 March 2007). "A royal welcome" (subscription access). Screen International (Emap Media). Retrieved on 20 February 2010. She immediately began overseeing editing work on The Other Boleyn Girl, which was already in post-production.Langan, Christine (25 February 2007). "My week: Christine Langan". The Observer (Guardian News & Media): p. 42. She also began developing The Damned United, a film based on David Peace's novel that fictionalised the 44 days Brian Clough managed Leeds United F.C. in 1974. The film was adapted by Peter Morgan, executive produced by Andy Harries, and starred Michael Sheen as Clough. On why she continues to work with the same people on her projects, Langan said, "The reason I return to working with the same people is that you have invested time, energy and thought and care into these relationships and that can pay dividends—The Queen is an example of those relationships paying dividends".