Beth Willis (producer)

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Willis at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2011. Beth Willis by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Willis at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2011.

Beth Willis (born 1978) is a British television executive who is currently joint Managing Director of television production company The Forge, a subsidiary of Banijay UK.

Contents

Career

In her early career, Willis worked as a script editor on Agatha Christie's Poirot and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard .

Willis was the producer of the BBC drama series Ashes to Ashes [1] , and was an executive producer (alongside Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger) of the fifth and sixth series of Doctor Who (broadcast in 2010 and 2011). [2]

From 2012 to 2018, Willis worked at Channel 4, initially as Deputy Head of Drama, before becoming Head of Drama in 2016. [3] While at Channel 4, Willis commissioned the BAFTA-winning The End of the F***ing World , BAFTA-winning National Treasure and RTS-winning No Offence and Humans . [4]

In 2018, Willis joined The Forge to work alongside founder George Faber [5] and she became joint Managing Director (with George Ormond) in 2026. [6] The Forge productions overseen by Willis include The Buccaneers for Apple TV [7] and the upcoming A Woman of Substance for Channel 4. [8]

Personal life

Willis is the granddaughter of late writer and prominent Labour peer, Ted Willis, Baron Willis, and she was educated at Blackheath High School.

References

  1. Willis, Beth (20 January 2008). "It's 1981, and 'Ashes to Ashes' - the sequel to 'Life on Mars' - finds DCI Gene Hunt in the land of perms, red leather ties and cocktail bars... As the first episodes were shot, producer Beth Willis kept a diary". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  2. "BBC Cymru Wales announces new Doctor Who producers". BBC Press Office (Press release). 15 April 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  3. "Beth Willis appointed Channel 4's Head of Drama". Channel 4 Press Office. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  4. "The Forge - Beth Willis". The Forge Entertainment. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  5. White, Peter (25 June 2018). "Channel 4's Head Of Drama Beth Willis Exits & Joins 'National Treasure' Producer The Forge". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  6. Goldbart, Max (14 January 2026). "George Faber Becoming Executive Chairman At 'The Buccaneers' Producer The Forge; Beth Willis & George Ormond Promoted To MD". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  7. "Apple TV+ unveils sneak peek at "The Buccaneers"". Apple TV Press. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  8. "Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds to lead Channel 4 adaptation of A Woman of Substance". Channel 4 Press Office. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2026.