The producer of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer's tip for finding a hit? Don't look for one

Francesca Moody, theatre producer on Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, summer 2025. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Europe hide caption toggle caption Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Europe EDINBURGH — A Shrek burlesque parody. A one man show inspired by the 2002 Hilary Duff Disney Channel original movie Cadet Kelly. An improvised hour titled David Elms Describes a Room (despite the dry name, it's actually quite entertaining). At the Edinburgh Fringe, which wrapped up its 79th edition late last month, almost anything can be a show. And almost any show can be an audition. This year's festival featured more than 4,200 productions, an overwhelming marketplace of comedy, theater, cabaret — and plenty that resist easy categorization. It is also an important hunting ground for producers searching for the next unlikely thing that might travel beyond Edinburgh. Few have a better track record for spotting it early than Francesca Moody. The 38-year-old London producer helped bring both Fleabag and Baby Reindeer to the Fringe, years before either became a global television phenomenon. Their success has given Moody a reputation for spotting hits early. But ask her how she ...