As Executive Vice President, Entertainment & Music, BBC Studios, Ryan O’Dowd focuses on developing high profile, talent-driven projects, major entertainment formats, and original series, spanning across game shows, music programs, and lifestyle series. In addition to working with talent, industry executives, and writers, O’Dowd actively collaborates with UK producers, from BBC Studios as well as independent producers, on top formats and original programs for the U.S. market. O’Dowd is currently an Executive Producer of the hit game show Weakest Link on NBC, working with host Jane Lynch on this iconic global format, which he was instrumental in bringing back to the U.S. for the first time in 18 years. He also helms the team that reimagined the format Walk on the Wild Side as the comedy series When Nature Calls with Helen Mirren, which premiered on ABC in 2021.

During his tenure at BBC Studios, O’Dowd has led the company’s Los Angeles Unscripted team to develop, sell, and produce U.S. adaptations of successful global formats as well as originals. O’Dowd executive produced the break-out hit Netflix true crime documentary Murder Among the Mormons, and worked with Peacock to launch the provocative original format Ex-Rated, hosted by Andy Cohen, where he served as Executive Producer for BBC Studios. His additional credits include Executive Producer for Breaking Bobby Bones on National Geographic.

Prior to joining BBC Studios, O’Dowd served as Vice President of Development for Ryan Seacrest Productions, where he was responsible for developing, formatting, and running new unscripted series while managing and overseeing all creative and logistical elements. O’Dowd began his career on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC), followed by writing and producing major broadcast formats and live events including The Emmys (CBS), CMA Awards (ABC), Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (ABC), The Billboard Music Awards (ABC), and American Country Countdown Awards (FOX). He has developed, written, and produced unscripted shows for major broadcast and cable networks – Fashion Star, American Dream Builders, and Celebrity Apprentice (NBC), Duets, Sing Your Face Off, Rising Star, and Bet on Your Baby (ABC), and Knock Knock LIVE (FOX) – and has written for some of the entertainment industry’s biggest names including Jay Leno, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ryan Seacrest, Heidi Klum, and Saturday Night Live’s Darrell Hammond and Andy Samberg.