Phoebe Waller-Bridge tops annual TV 100 power list

Fleabag creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge has topped a list of TV talent.

The actress, who also wrote the first series of Killing Eve, was number one on RadioTimes.com’s annual power list, TV 100, which celebrates both on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent who have had an exceptional past year in British television.

Waller-Bridge – who has worked on the script for upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die – pipped Line Of Duty actor Stephen Graham to the top spot.

Rylan Clark-Neal, who this year became co-presenter of Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, host of ITV2’s Supermarket Sweep reboot and will also host the BBC’s forthcoming Ready Steady Cook revival, was third, actor and producer Ashley Walters was fourth and BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, who interviewed Prince Andrew for Newsnight about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, was fifth.

The top 10 was dominated by female TV stars, with last year’s Strictly winner Stacey Dooley, new Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer and Line Of Duty’s Vicky McClure all on the list.

RuPaul, who debuted the hugely successful UK version of Drag Race, completed the Top 10.

Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s director of content, said: “Phoebe is a phenomenal force of nature who has taken the world by storm with her breathtakingly original voice (creations Fleabag and Killing Eve).

“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’s done to 007!”

RadioTimes.com’s editorial director Tim Glanfield said: “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. With Killing Eve and Fleabag garnering awards and praise on both sides of the pond, the Fleabag stage show the hottest ticket in London and New York and a Bond script on the way, Phoebe is a worthy number one for the 2019 list.”

Other notable names in the top 20 include Fiona Bruce (11th), who took over the reins on Question Time, and presenter Naga Munchetty – who was at the centre of a controversy this year when the BBC ruled that she had crossed an editorial guideline by speaking out on air about comments made by the US president – was 12th.

The list was compiled by a panel of TV industry experts alongside RadioTimes.com critics. The full list is on www.radiotimes.com.