Leeds-based Wise Owl Films has appointed Ben Gordon as its new head of development.
Gordon’s remit will be focused on expanding the factual, specialist factual, contemporary history, archive and documentary slates with both linear and digital formats at Wise Owl Films.
A highly regarded and experienced head of development, Gordon has previously worked for HiddenLight Productions, The Garden Productions, Wag Entertainment and Wall to Wall Television.
He has previously solo-developed the Bafta award-winning The Yorkshire Ripper Files: A Very British Crime Story for BBC Two/Four, as well as developing the Back In Time For… brand for BBC Two; Britain’s Secret War Babies for Channel 4; The Shipman Files: A Very British Crime Story for BBC Two; My Family, The Holocaust and Me for BBC One, and The Search For Instagram’s Worst Con Artist and The Real Fatal Attraction, both for ITVX/Netflix.
Other commissions to which Ben has contributed include: Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers (Netflix) and Don’t Pick Up The Phone (Netflix/Paramount +).
James Knight, creative director, Wise Owl Films, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Ben as our new head of development. He brings a wealth of experience and a tenacious reputation for generating smart contemporary ideas. I’m so pleased to be working alongside him as we continue to strengthen our factual slate into 2026 and beyond.”
Gordon added: “I’m really delighted to have been invited to join James and his fantastic team at Wise Owl and am so looking forward to helping them build on and extend their exciting and varied slate of work.”
Wise Owl Films is part of ALL3Media, with MD John Whittle overseeing both Lime Pictures and Wise Owl Films.
Recent commissions include the music documentary strand When X Came to Britain, which has so far covered Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Nirvana, Motown, Tina Turner, Blondie and ABBA for BBC Two; Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids and Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives (More4); Anita Rani – The Brontes: Sisters of Disruption for Sky Arts; BBC Two documentary The Hacienda: The Club That Shook Britain; Channel 4’s My Second Hand Home, and Channel 4.0’s Box Fresh.
