James Knight, formerly development executive at Leeds-based Wise Owl Films, has been promoted to creative director with immediate effect.
BAFTA-nominated Knight has a 25-year factual television career spanning documentary, current affairs and science programming. He’s an award-winning producer who has worked for a host of broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky, Nat Geo, Discovery and The History Channel.
In his new role, James will continue to oversee Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids for More 4 which drops its new series on January 19th 2026 (TBC) as well as spearheading Wise Owl’s output in the premium factual space.
Mark Robinson, founder of Wise Owl and former creative director, will continue to executive produce for the Leeds-based label and consult on a range of development projects, including music documentaries.
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Managing Director of All3 Media’s Lime Pictures and Wise Owl Films, John Whittle said: “I’m delighted that James is stepping up to the creative director role. He’s been instrumental in the current success of the company, and his wealth of production and editorial experience position him perfectly to lead on Wise Owl’s continued growth and onwards into the next chapter.”
Newly promoted Knight added: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to guide Wise Owl into its next iteration. I’m determined to continue Mark’s brilliant legacy, and am looking forward to working alongside our fantastic team to develop and deliver numerous exciting future projects.”
Recent Wise Owl 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, and BBC Two documentary The Hacienda: The Club That Shook Britain, Channel 4’s My Second Hand Home, and Channel 4.0’s Box Fresh.
Wise Owl parent Lime Pictures is part of All3Media and based in Liverpool. It produces kids and family scripted programming, such as Emmy nominated fantasy animation Wolf King for Netflix, upcoming CBBC series Girl Troop vs Aliens, Zero Chill and double Daytime Emmy award-winning Free Rein for Netflix. It also produces the award-winning continuing drama Hollyoaks, which has recently celebrated 30 years as Channel 4’s flagship soap.
Lime produces for all platforms, both linear and VOD, and has played a pioneering role in using television as a way of on-screen storytelling, and as an off-screen platform, to communicate with a younger audience.
