Leap to top of Fleabag... Phoebe heads list of the most powerful TV stars
AS her star status continues to rise, Phoebe Waller-Bridge has topped an annual list of the 100 most powerful names in television.
The Fleabag creator is followed by Line Of Duty actor Stephen Graham and TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neil.
The Radio Times power list, drawn up by a panel of TV industry experts alongside RadioTimes.com critics, recognises stars who are at the top of broadcasters’ wish lists.
It features those who have landed the biggest roles or masterminded the moments that have had audiences glued to their screens.
Phoebe, 34, shot to fame with her award-winning first series of Fleabag in 2016, followed by hit thriller Killing Eve in 2018.
A sell-out theatre show and second outing for Fleabag earlier this year saw Phoebe signed as scriptwriter for the next Bond movie – confirming her as TV’s hottest property both in front of and behind the camera.
Unique
BBC director of content Charlotte Moore told RadioTimes.com: “Phoebe is a phenomenal force of nature who has taken the world by storm with her breathtakingly original voice.
“She’s an utterly unique writer and performer whose emotional honesty and mischievous wit constantly surprises and captures the zeitgeist, and leaves the audience only craving more. I can’t wait to see what she has done to 007!”
Liverpudlian actor Stephen Graham – who this year starred in Line Of Duty, The Virtues and Netflix film The Irishman – is second on the list.
In third place, former X Factor star Rylan Clark-Neil was this year confirmed as co-presenter of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and ITV2’s Supermarket Sweep reboot – as well as bagging a slot on Radio 2.
Tim Glanfield, RadioTimes.com Editorial Director, said: “The TV 100 list shows what a fantastic year 2019 has been for television, with stand-out talent from every area, creating truly memorable and high-quality content.
“It’s testament to the strength of the British television industry that our TV stars, writers and producers are not only impressing their peers and our critics, but also receiving global acclaim for their work.
“None more so than our winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who has truly gone global with her unique writing, storytelling and acting. Phoebe is a worthy number one for the 2019 list.”
Ashley Walters, who stars as Dushane in the Netflix-produced Top Boy, is fourth in the TV 100. And Newsnight host Emily Maitlis, who arguably oversaw the most-discussed
TV moment of year when she interviewed Prince Andrew, is fifth.
Women dominate the rest of the Top 10, with Stacey Dooley, whose 2019 successes included presenting a Panorama on IS Brides, sixth. Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse is seventh, while Jodie Comer who won a BAFTA and an Emmy as Villanelle in Killing Eve comes eighth. Line Of Duty’s Vicky McClure is ninth and Drag Race presenter RuPaul completes the Top 10.