FOX ENTERTAINMENT NAMES SOPHIE LEONARD EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, UNSCRIPTED AT FOX TELEVISION NETWORK

Leading Industry Creative Executive and Prolific Producer Joins FOX to Helm Unscripted Strategy, Drive Premium Formats and Develop New Franchises

Los Angeles, CA - February 12, 2026 - FOX Entertainment today announced that Sophie Leonard has been named Executive Vice President, Unscripted, FOX Television Network, overseeing all aspects of the network's unscripted programming slate. The appointment was announced today by Michael Thorn, President of FOX Television Network.

Leonard will lead the creative strategy, development, and production of FOX's unscripted portfolio, working closely with internal teams and creative partners to build bold, premium formats and large-scale franchises designed to resonate with broad audiences and travel globally. She will spearhead the expansion of the network's unscripted pipeline, with a focus on scalable competition formats, breakthrough social experiments, and returnable event series that extend across platforms.

A highly regarded creative executive and producer, Leonard brings deep experience in developing and producing hit unscripted programming for global audiences. She has built a reputation for identifying distinctive formats, nurturing original IP, and translating culturally resonant ideas into durable franchises. Leonard has partnered closely with FOX Entertainment across multiple projects, including her role as a driving force behind FOX's hit series Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, while fostering strong relationships within the creative community.

"Sophie is an exceptional creative leader with fearless instincts, global perspective, and a proven ability to deliver bold, high-impact unscripted entertainment," said Michael Thorn, President of FOX Television Network. "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," said Sophie 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."

Leonard joins FOX from Samphire Films, the production company she co-founded in 2024, where she served as Creative Director. Samphire was launched with a focus on bold, premium unscripted entertainment formats and high-end documentary storytelling. The company rapidly built an international slate spanning the U.S. and U.K., including multiple large-scale unscripted entertainment formats currently in development for FOX, alongside premium limited series for global streaming platforms.

Prior to founding Samphire, Leonard served as Creative Director at the multi award-winning Minnow Films, where she executive produced more than 200 hours of primetime programming across entertainment and premium unscripted. During her tenure, Minnow significantly expanded its footprint across U.K. broadcasters, U.S. networks, and global streaming platforms, including a close collaboration with FOX Entertainment leadership.

Leonard's credits include some of the most successful unscripted format powerhouses in the global marketplace, including four seasons of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test on FOX, SAS: Who Dares Wins and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (Channel 4), The Apprentice (BBC), and First Dates (Channel 4). Her premium documentary work includes Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal and Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action (both #1 globally on Netflix), as well as Mother Teresa: For the Love of God (Sky Documentaries), Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll (BBC/PBS), and Picasso: The Beauty and the Beast (BBC).

About FOX Entertainment

With a legacy spanning nearly 40 years, FOX Entertainment is one of the world's most recognizable media brands and a leading global creator of multi-genre content across broadcast, streaming, digital and emerging platforms. Known for its independent, innovative spirit and bold storytelling, the company is committed to reaching audiences where they are through a platform- and format-agnostic approach to developing, testing and scaling intellectual property worldwide.

FOX Entertainment consists of three core business units. The FOX Television Network, which encompasses its flagship linear platform and streaming partnerships with Hulu and FOX One, is home to hit series including The Simpsons, The Masked Singer, Doc, Memory of a Killer, Fear Factor: House of Fear, The Floor and Hell's Kitchen. FOX Entertainment Studios, operates the in-house scripted and unscripted studios behind series such as Animal Control, Best Medicine, The Faithful, and The Way Home, as well as Bento Box Entertainment with animated hits such as Hazbin Hotel and Krapopolis; Studio Ramsay Global with Next Level Chef, Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service and Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars; entertainment studio TMZ; and the independent film label Tideline. FOX Entertainment Global is the company's worldwide content sales and distribution arm.

As part of its evolution into a modern next-gen studio, FOX Entertainment is expanding its digital storytelling ecosystem with investments across vertical video with Holywater, Chain's experiential storytelling, podcasting with Meet Cute, a two-way content pipeline with HarperCollins Publishing, and creator-led formats through the newly formed FOX Creator Studios. Through these strategic initiatives, the company is investing earlier in emerging ideas and new forms of audience engagement, while maintaining the ability to grow successful concepts into premium franchises across broadcast, streaming and global platforms.

A prolific content creator and production partner, FOX Entertainment collaborates with leading studios, creators, and platforms worldwide to produce and distribute premium content at scale across broadcast, streaming, and digital ecosystems, while continuing to grow its portfolio of owned IP and next-generation storytelling formats.