Hot Shots 2022: Evelyn Yilin Liu

In just three years, Evelyn Yilin Liu has worked her way up from junior video producer at Buzzfeed and testing new formats and talent on YouTube for BBC iPlayer, to becoming a shooting producer-director on Naked’s hit BBC3 show The Rap Game UK.

She’s also run social campaigns for flagship BBC titles from the Eurovision Song Contest and Strictly Come Dancing to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Glow Up and The Hit List.

One of Edinburgh’s ‘Ones to Watch’ and a TV Collective/Fremantle ‘Breakthrough Leader’, she continues to forge a path through youthoriented programmes, deploying both the end-to-end productions skills honed in her early digital work and the editorial and storytelling talents she developed during a Masters in Broadcast Journalism.

As one of the few female shooters in the sector, as well as a first-generation immigrant, Liu brings a unique and fresh perspective to telling stories with authenticity, relevance and native storytelling.

Her other director credits include C4’s It’s Alright To Be White, BBC3’s upcoming Warrior Island and, as producer/director, BBC2 staple The Great British Menu.

She has said her ambition is to continue to bring more quality to digital, and more dynamism to broadcast – as well as to win Baftas and one day become a commissioner. But above all, she wants to help TV be more fun, bold and inclusive.

BBC3 channel editor Nasfim Haque says Liu understands how to reach a younger generation and is laser-focused on delivering content for them.

“Evelyn is an energetic and resourceful new talent who makes the most of every opportunity that this industry throws up,” Haque says. “The industry needs more Evelyns.”