Why this Ex-BBC Comedy Commissioner Quit a 20-Year TV Career to Back Underdog Scripts | Sarah Asante

What happens when the first Black female commissioner of BBC Comedy walks away from a 20-year career in TV and bets on herself?Meet Sarah Asante: creative consultant, former TV exec and founder of Asante Space, the scripted consultancy for “outsiders and underdogs.” In this episode, Sarah unpacks how she went from advertising to commissioning hit shows at the BBC, BAFTA and UKTV, and why she left it all behind to become “the commissioner you see before your commissioner meeting.”Sarah reveals exactly how she built The Script Advantage Network on Skool, her DIY marketing stack (Canva, Claude, Substack, Buffer, ManyChat) and the jaw-dropping growth that followed: Instagram from ~50 to 1,500+ followers, a YouTube video hitting 95k views, and 90+ community sign-ups in a single week. She also breaks down a tiered business model that any creative consultant can learn from: paid consulting for production companies, discounted 1:1s for individuals, and a free community layer.Plus: why “palatable” is the dirtiest word in TV right now, what commissioners actually want to see in your pitch, London life in SW London, favourite workspaces (the British Library gets a big shout), a lifestyle rapid-fire on music, sneakers and beauty — and the unforgettable story of producing the Shonda Rhimes fellowship at the Edinburgh TV Festival.---Steal Sarah’s “stack” of recommendations (along with all guests) in the Coffee & Oysters Guide.Sarah on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-asante-275a1480Asante Space: https://asantespace.org/The Script Advantage Network: https://www.skool.com/scripted-and-seen-4121/about---00:00 Introduction and Personal Insights06:08 The Pivot: Leaving TV Leadership & Becoming a Consultant10:30 How Sarah Became a Commissioner (The Zigzag Career Path)22:05 Commissioning for the Underdogs: Who’s Missing From TV?27:40 Stop Trying to Be ‘Palatable’: Authenticity, Originals & AI33:24 Going Self-Employed: Building the Brand, Website & Tech Stack48:42 Rapid-fire lifestyle: hype music, concerts & mood-based playlists51:32 Style & beauty routine: high-street fits, sneaker obsession, minimal makeup58:14 London life in SW: parks, transport hacks & why the city wins01:02:48 Workspaces & writing spots: members clubs, British Library, and getting out the house01:05:14 Where to eat: Asian food adventures, Brixton finds & staying curious01:19:06 Conclusion---💬 Become a guest📓 2026 Journal Template🪄 Partnerships & Questions: [email protected]💌 Never miss an episode: Sign up to Substack🎓 The Big Notion Energy Academy📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CoffeeandOysters📸 Instagram: @coffeeandoysterspod📱TikTok: @coffeeandoysterspod Get full access to Coffee & Oysters: The London Business Babe Podcast at coffeeandoysters.substack.com/subscribe