Netflix has signed veteran reality television executive Mike Darnell to an exclusive multi-year overall deal, under which he will develop and produce unscripted programmes while advising on the streamer’s wider non-fiction output. The appointment signals Netflix’s effort to strengthen its competition, dating and reality formats as it enters a new phase following the departure of its unscripted chief Jeff Gaspin.

Darnell will work with Netflix’s Brandon Riegg on creative development across the portfolio, including forthcoming competition series based on Willy Wonka and Monopoly. He previously spent nearly 20 years at Fox, where he helped launch hits including American Idol, MasterChef and So You Think You Can Dance, followed by a decade leading Warner Bros.’ unscripted television division; he left Warner Bros. three years ago.