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Jeff Pope: Reviews Now More Crucial Than Ratings for Streamers

opinion-review · 2026-04-29

Jeff Pope, Oscar-nominated producer of Philomena, told the Broadcasting Press Guild in London that reviews have become more important than ratings in the streaming era. Speaking ahead of his ITV drama Believe Me about serial rapist John Worboys, Pope noted he still doesn't know how his Disney+ show Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes performed. His partner Saurabh Kakkar argued reviews now drive viewership as audiences use them to decide what to watch. Pope praised streamers for factual dramas like Netflix's Adolescence but warned their higher crew wages strain traditional public service drama. Believe Me, launching May 10, stars Daniel Mays as Worboys and focuses on police failures and victim advocacy. Pope emphasized the story is about the statistic that only three out of every 100 reported rapes lead to charges. He denied an anti-police agenda but said the Metropolitan Police is "not yet fit for the role in 2026."

Key facts

  • Jeff Pope spoke at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch in London about shifting importance of reviews vs. ratings.
  • Pope's Disney+ show Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes was his first streamer production.
  • Pope said he still doesn't know the ratings for Suspect on Disney+.
  • Saurabh Kakkar stated reviews matter more now because audiences use them to decide what to watch.
  • Pope praised streamers for factual dramas like Netflix's Adolescence and Toxic Town.
  • Pope noted streamers offer higher crew wages, making it difficult for traditional public service drama.
  • Believe Me, about John Worboys, launches May 10 on ITV, starring Daniel Mays.
  • The drama focuses on the statistic that only 3% of reported rapes lead to charges.
  • One of Worboys' victims, Carrie Johnson, wife of former PM Boris Johnson, was the first victim Pope contacted.
  • Pope denied an anti-police agenda but said the Metropolitan Police is 'not yet fit for the role in 2026.'

Entities

Artists

  • Jeff Pope
  • Saurabh Kakkar
  • Daniel Mays
  • Aimée-Ffion Edwards
  • Aasiya Shah
  • Miriam Petche
  • John Worboys
  • Carrie Johnson
  • Boris Johnson

Institutions

  • Broadcasting Press Guild
  • ITV
  • Disney+
  • Netflix
  • BBC
  • Metropolitan Police
  • Etta Pictures
  • ITV Studios
  • BARB

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources