Overview and Experience
Sean Hancock is Director of Nonfiction at Netflix and has been with the streamer for just over four years. As one of the first hires on the nonfiction team, Hancock was instrumental in launching this brand new department which is now fully established and thriving. While at Netflix, Hancock has commissioned a broad and eclectic slate of shows that include Too Hot To Handle, How To Become A Tyrant, Magic For Humans, Fastest Car, Car Masters and Sexy Beasts.
Before joining Netflix, Hancock was Vice President of Alternative Programming, Fremantlemedia North America. During his three year stint with the production company Hancock helped oversee development of new entertainment formats as well as reimagining beloved games shows such as To Tell The Truth and Match Game which both sold to ABC. Hancock also developed and executive produced Mat Franco’s Got Magic for NBC.
Prior to joining Netflix, Hancock spent four years with the BBC in London as a commissioning editor in entertainment. In this role Hancock greenlit and executive produced The Revolution Will Be Televised (winner of the 2013 BAFTA for Best Comedy), six seasons of Russell Howard’s Good News, The Michael McIntyre Chat Show, Sweat The Small Stuff, Junior Doctors and Murder in Successville (winner of the of the 2018 BAFTA for Best Comedy Entertainment Series).
Prior to joining the BBC, Hancock worked as a freelancer for ten years, producing high-profile entertainment shows for all the UK’s major broadcasters, including Celebrity Big Brother, The Farm, Shipwrecked, All Star Family Fortunes, Take Me Out, Britain’s Missing Top Model and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria. Also an accomplished writer, his 2012 debut novel, Trick, was a Top 20 Kindle best-seller in the UK. Moreover it was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Award. Hancock’s second novel The Flooding was a Kindle Scout winner in 2017.
