Banijay UK scripted indie, The Forge (Help, National Treasure, Ackley Bridge, Shardlake, The Buccaneers) has reorganised its senior team going into 2026.
Founder and Managing Director of 10 years, George Faber, takes up the newly created role of Executive Chairman, continuing to executive produce both new and existing projects and advising on the creative and commercial strategy of the business.
Executive Producers Beth Willis and George Ormond step up to become Co-Managing Directors, responsible for running the business, setting its strategic direction and driving the programming slate.
The Forge’s upcoming shows include A Woman or Substance starring Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds for Channel 4, Jack Thorne’s new six part series Falling starring Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu for Channel 4, The Buccaneers with Christina Hendricks and Kristine Froseth for Apple TV +, currently in production for a third season, plus a new returning series and a limited series for a major broadcaster yet to be announced.
The business also has a catalogue of multi award winning titles built over the past 10 years including Jack Thorne’s National Treasure, Help and Kiri for Channel 4, Anya Reiss’s Becoming Elizabeth for Starz, Stephen Butchard’s Shardlake for Disney +, Ayub Khan Din’s Ackley Bridge for C4, Peter Moffat’s The Last Post and David Hare’s Collateral and Roadkill, for the BBC.
In addition, Producers Jade Taylor and Joe Innes have been promoted to Executive Producer roles. They join Executive Producer and Head of Business Affairs at The Forge Mark Pybus. Taylor was previously Producer on Ackley Bridge Series 5 for Channel 4 and most recently on Just Act Normal for BBC3. Innes has worked on The Buccaneers for Apple TV+ since its inception, Series Producing the second series and Exec Producing alongside Beth and Katherine Jakeways on the third.
Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland said, “We’ve loved working with The Forge over the past few years since they joined Banijay UK. George Faber is a major figure in the world of scripted television, someone who has not only been responsible for a stream of fantastic shows but also helped to shape and grow the UK drama industry, most recently through the genesis of this terrific production company. In Beth Willis and George Ormond, The Forge has two formidable creative leaders to take the reins with George Faber still very much in the business as executive producer, sage and consultant. I can’t wait to see the next chapter of the development of this brilliant team under this new leadership structure.”
George Faber said, “It’s been a privilege to lead The Forge from its inception for its first decade. I’m immensely proud of the quality and diversity of our dramas and of the extraordinary talent we’ve had the honour to work with. I know the company will continue to flourish under the new leadership of George and Beth and I’m delighted to be continuing my close association with the team.”
Beth Willis added; “George Faber put something very special in The Forge’s DNA – an infectious creativity and passion for great storytelling flows through it and all the talented people who work there. It’s a privilege to work alongside the brilliant George Ormond and Mark Pybus – and with Joe Innes and Jade Taylor stepping up to executive produce, I couldn’t be more excited about the future.”
George Ormond added; “From our beginnings in single room office with Patisserie Valerie as our meeting room to where we are now, working with George, Mark and Beth to build The Forge over the last decade has been a thrilling experience made hugely enjoyable by our shared creative ambition. We are just as ambitious for the next decade and I’m looking forward to it being just as much fun as the last.”
George Faber set up The Forge in 2014 following 15 years at Company Pictures which he co-founded with Charlie Pattinson in 1998 and where he was responsible for shows including Shameless, Skins, Wild at Heart and Inspector George Gently. Before that he was Head of Single Drama at the BBC.
The Forge was acquired by Banijay UK in November 2023.
Jon Creamer
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