What The Forge Entertainment does

The Forge Entertainment Ltd. is a UK-based independent drama production company founded in 2014 by George Faber and headquartered at the Zeppelin Building in Farringdon, London. The company develops and produces scripted television drama for major UK broadcasters — BBC and Channel 4 — and international streaming platforms including Apple TV+, Disney+, and Starz. Its catalogue spans prestige single dramas (Help, National Treasure), returning series (Ackley Bridge, The Buccaneers across three seasons), period dramas (Shardlake, Becoming Elizabeth, A Woman of Substance), and contemporary issue-led drama (Kiri, Dark Money, Marriage, Reputation). Productions are commissioned directly via senior relationships with broadcaster drama commissioners, and revenue is generated through production fees, licensing, and co-production arrangements.

The Forge operates on a project-based commissioned-production model with an approximate 20-person permanent team covering executive, development, production, finance, and operations functions, augmented by freelance crew during active shoots. Multiple productions are delivered through co-production partnerships with sister independent producers such as Bonafide Films, Runaway Fridge, and The Money Men to share risk on higher-budget SVOD commissions. The company has won BAFTA, International Emmy, Rose d'Or, Peabody, and Broadcast Awards across titles including Help (Int'l Emmy Best TV Movie 2022), National Treasure (BAFTA Best Mini-Series 2017), and Kiri (BAFTA Mini-Series 2019), positioning it as a recognized supplier of prestige UK drama.

Since November 2023, The Forge has operated as a subsidiary of Banijay UK within the larger Banijay global content group. In 2025-2026, the leadership transitioned: founder George Faber moved to Executive Chairman and longtime executives Beth Willis (ex-Head of Drama at Channel 4) and George Ormond were elevated to Co-Managing Directors. Current and upcoming commissions span Apple TV+ (The Buccaneers Season 3), Disney+ (Shardlake), BBC (Marriage, Just Act Normal, Reputation), and Channel 4 (Falling, A Woman of Substance, Generation Z, Ackley Bridge), supporting a multi-platform revenue base anchored in long-form scripted television.

Name

The Forge Entertainment

Legal name

The Forge Entertainment Ltd.

Website

https://theforgeentertainment.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Forge Entertainment is a London-based independent drama production company founded in 2014 that develops and produces scripted television for UK broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4) and international streamers (Apple TV+, Disney+, Starz). Now a subsidiary of Banijay UK since November 2023, the company is recognized for award-winning prestige and returning drama series.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Content Production and Licensing: The Forge produces TV dramas commissioned by broadcasters and streaming platforms. Revenue is generated through production fees, licensing deals, and co-production arrangements with platforms like Apple TV+, Disney+, BBC, Channel 4, and Starz. The company became part of Banijay UK in November 2023.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Forge Entertainment is a UK-based drama production company that develops, produces, and delivers scripted television dramas — period dramas, contemporary thrillers, and socially relevant series — commissioned by major UK broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4) and international streaming platforms (Apple TV+, Disney+, Starz). Revenue is earned through production fees, content licensing, and co-production arrangements with these commissioning platforms. The company became part of Banijay UK in November 2023.

Product overview

The Forge Entertainment is a UK-based drama production company that creates high-quality television dramas. Their portfolio includes period dramas (The Buccaneers, Becoming Elizabeth, A Woman of Substance), contemporary thrillers (Shardlake, Reputation, Roadkill), and socially relevant series (Ackley Bridge, Help, Kiri). The company operates as a production studio producing content for major broadcasters including Channel 4, BBC, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Starz.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Buccaneers An eight-episode period drama series inspired by Edith Wharton's unfinished novel, following American heiresses who marry into British aristocracy in the 1870s. Produced for Apple TV+ across multiple seasons.
• The Buccaneers S2 Second season of The Buccaneers for Apple TV+, an 8 x 60 minute drama, created and written by Katherine Jakeways, with executive producers Beth Willis, Susanna White, and Katherine Jakeways.
• A Woman of Substance An eight-episode adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's bestselling novel, following Emma Harte's journey from Yorkshire maid to business mogul in the 20th century. Produced for Channel 4.
• Falling A six-part romantic drama written by Jack Thorne about a nun and a Catholic priest who fall in love. Produced for Channel 4 as a 6 x 60 minute drama.
• Reputation A six-part legal drama from Anya Reiss centering on a lawyer representing a pop star in a high-profile libel case. Produced for BBC.
• Shardlake A four-part Tudor murder-mystery adaptation of C.J. Sansom's novels, featuring lawyer Matthew Shardlake investigating a murder at a monastery. Produced for Disney+.
• Just Act Normal A six-part darkly comic drama from Janice Okoh about three siblings trying to evade authorities after their mother's disappearance. Produced for BBC Three.
• Marriage A four-part drama from Stefan Golaszewski exploring the complexities of a 30-year marriage starring Sean Bean and Nicola Walker. Produced for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
• Generation Z A six-part zombie drama from Ben Wheatley set in a UK town where a chemical leak causes elderly residents to become flesh-eating zombies. Produced for Channel 4.
• Becoming Elizabeth An eight-part historical drama for Starz depicting the early life of Queen Elizabeth I as a teenager navigating Tudor court politics.
• Ackley Bridge A five-series drama set in a Yorkshire Academy formed by merging an all-white and all-Asian school, exploring multicultural Britain. Produced for Channel 4.
• Help A feature-length drama set in a Liverpool care home during the COVID-19 pandemic, following the relationship between a young care worker and a patient. Produced for Channel 4.
• National Treasure A four-part drama following a beloved comedian arrested following a rape allegation, exploring the impact on his family. Produced for Channel 4.
• Kiri A four-part drama examining the fallout after the disappearance of a young black girl during an adoption process. Produced for Channel 4.
• Roadkill A four-part political thriller following a self-made politician whose public and private life unravels. Produced for BBC One.
• Dark Money A four-part drama about a family deciding whether to accept a pay-off to stay silent about abuse of their youngest son. Produced for BBC One.
• The Accident A four-part drama about a community torn apart after an explosion at a construction site, exploring questions of justice and accountability. Produced for Channel 4.
• Collateral A four-part thriller following the investigation into the shooting of a pizza delivery man in London. Produced for BBC Two.
• The Miniaturist A two-part adaptation of Jessie Burton's novel set in 1686 Amsterdam, following a young bride who receives a doll's house replica. Produced for BBC One.
• Rules of the Game A four-part thriller about sexual politics in the workplace, centered on a death at a sportswear company. Produced for BBC One.
• The Last Post A six-part drama set in Aden in 1965 following a British army unit fighting a terrorist insurgency. Produced for BBC One, co-produced with Bonafide Films.

Quantifiable outcome

• A Woman of Substance became Channel 4's most-streamed drama since It's a Sin
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Banijay UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023The Forge became part of Banijay in November 2023, joining the Banijay UK group of production companies. This acquisition positions The Forge within one of the largest media groups globally, providing strategic backing and access to expanded resources and distribution networks.
• Bonafide FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner on The Last Post, a 6-part drama series set in Aden in 1965. Bonafide Films served as co-producer alongside The Forge for the BBC1/Amazon production.
• Runaway FridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner on Shardlake, a 4-part Tudor murder mystery series for Disney+. Runaway Fridge (led by Stevie Lee) served as co-producer alongside The Forge.
• The Money MenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner on Marriage, a 4-part drama series for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The Money Men co-produced the series with The Forge.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• See-Saw Films: UK/Australian production company behind The Power of the Dog, Slow Horses, Heartstopper. Comparable as a transatlantic indie producing prestige TV drama with Apple TV+/BBC commissions and feature-TV dual capability.
• Neal Street Productions: Sam Mendes/Pippa Harris's UK production company (Call My Agent, Penny Dreadful, The Franchise). Comparable as a prestige UK drama indie with international co-productions and major platform commissions.
• Heyday Films: David Heyman-founded UK production company producing both feature films (Harry Potter franchise) and prestige TV (The Essex Serpent, Disclaimer for Apple TV+). Comparable as a UK-based producer of literary IP adaptations for major streamers.
• Drama Republic: UK scripted production company (Doctor Foster, The Cry, The Power). Closely comparable as a similarly-sized UK drama indie with BBC/Channel 4/streamer commissions and strong female-led creative leadership.
• Mammoth Screen: UK drama production company (part of ITV Studios) producing prestige period and contemporary dramas (Poldark, World on Fire, The Serpent). Closely comparable scale, genre mix, and broadcaster relationships, particularly with BBC and ITV.
• Sister (formerly Sister Pictures): London-based scripted TV producer (Chernobyl, The Split, Giri/Haji). Comparable as a UK-led drama indie with international streamer commissions (HBO/Sky, Netflix) and award-winning prestige positioning; co-founder Jane Featherstone previously ran Kudos/Shine UK.
• Kudos Film and Television: Bauer Media-owned UK drama indie producing prestige scripted TV (Broadchurch, Utopia, The Tunnel). Directly comparable as a similarly-sized UK drama specialist with BBC/Channel 4/Sky/streamer commissions and major award pedigree. Beth Willis's previous employer, Foundry.
• Working Title Television: UK scripted TV arm of Working Title (part of NBCUniversal). Produces prestige drama for UK and US broadcasters. Comparable as a similarly-sized UK drama producer with major broadcaster relationships and feature/TV crossover.
• Bad Wolf: Welsh-based scripted drama producer (His Dark Materials, Industry, A Discovery of Witches). Directly comparable as a UK drama indie of similar vintage (founded 2015) with HBO/BBC commissions and prestige IP adaptations.

Broad incumbents

• All3Media: Large UK-headquartered independent TV production group owning ~50 production labels including Company Pictures (George Faber's former company). Comparable as a parent-of-peer UK scripted production group, though much larger and broader in scope than The Forge as an indie.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theforge_drama
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-forge-entertainment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Forge Entertainment