Lorton has backed a series of high-profile documentaries including Apple TV+’s recently released Boom! Boom!: The World vs. Boris Becker from Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side) and Disney+’s  documentary series Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story.

Ash Smith spent a decade with Amazon’s Prime Video service, latterly looking after Pay Movie licensing for the UK (including the company’s current output deals with Lionsgate and Warner Bros). Alongside this, Smith also owned and expanded Prime Video UK’s licensed Sports documentary slate – with key acquisitions including Andy Murray: Resurfacing, Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, Rooney, Shane, That Peter Crouch Film, Arsene Wenger: Invincible, Horsepower, Rio Ferdinand’s Tipping Point, Ben Stokes: Phoenix From The Ashes and We Are Newcastle United.

Julian Bird says, “We are looking forward to Ash joining Lorton and bringing with him a huge understanding of the SVOD market. His experience is second to none, and he will help us develop the business and bring our content to an even wider audience”.

Ash Smith says, “I am thrilled to join the team at Lorton Entertainment, having had the privilege of collaborating with them during my tenure at Prime Video. Lorton has an enviable track record of delivering captivating stories to audiences, and the upcoming slate is only growing in terms of stature and ambition. I’m excited to leverage my experience and play my part to contribute to Lorton’s continued success and growth.”