Management Shake-Up at “Slow Horses” Producer See-Saw Films: Ben Irving Joins, Helen Gregory Departs

According to CinemaDrame News Agency, See-Saw Films, the production company behind the hit series Slow Horses, has hired senior executive Ben Irving from Fifth Season. The management transition comes as Helen Gregory steps down from her role after five years with the company.

Ben Irving has been appointed as joint CEO and will lead the company alongside Simon Gillis, who holds the same position. Details regarding Helen Gregory’s next destination have not yet been announced, but she stated that she is considering the “next step” in her career and looks forward to seeing See-Saw’s continued success under the leadership of Ben Irving and Simon Gillis.

Irving, a well-known figure in the UK drama production industry, joins from Fifth Season (backed by CJ ENM), where he served as Creative Director of International Scripted Content. There, he spearheaded various projects for Netflix and MGM+, as well as the six-part limited series Crouch End for Prime Video. Irving originally launched the UK development and production division for Fifth Season in 2022.

Prior to his tenure at Fifth Season, Irving was Head of Drama at the BBC, overseeing all primetime output for the network. He joined BBC Drama in 2017 as Head of Development before being named Commissioning Editor a year later. He eventually took over leadership of the department following Piers Wenger’s departure. During his time at the BBC, he executive produced high-profile series including His Dark Materials, Industry, The Capture, Doctor Who, and the final season of Happy Valley.

Before that, Irving served as Vice President of Development and Production at David Heyman’s Heyday Films, working on projects such as Gravity, Paddington, Paddington 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Secret Garden. Earlier in his career, he worked in development at Warner Bros. Pictures and Michael Kuhn’s Qwerty Films.

Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, co-founders of See-Saw Films, said in a joint statement: “Ben is a universally respected creative and strategic leader with deep market knowledge, long-standing relationships with the UK and international creative community, and invaluable industry experience. Working alongside Simon Gillis, Ben will be a powerful driving force as we expand and develop our television scripted slate.”

Irving’s appointment at the Mediawan-owned banner comes as part of its UK creative expansion plans. The division is responsible for producing the Emmy Award-winning series Slow Horses for Apple TV+, Heartstopper for Netflix, and the Sky/Starz co-production Sweetpea. Upcoming projects include the feature film Tenzing for Apple Original Films, Adults for Netflix, The Great White Shark for ABC Australia and Disney, as well as new seasons of Slow Horses and Sweetpea.

Commenting on his move, Ben Irving said: “Throughout my career, I have admired See-Saw Films from afar as it has grown into a powerhouse studio built on creative ambition. When the opportunity arose to work alongside Iain, Emile, Simon, and Liz at this exciting phase of company growth, I couldn’t pass it up.”

Meanwhile, Helen Gregory parts ways with See-Saw Films after five years working alongside Simon Gillis. She played a key role in the success of series like Slow Horses, Sweetpea, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Heartstopper, and was instrumental in the 2025 deal that saw See-Saw Films acquired by Mediawan. Gregory also secured the adaptation rights to The Neverending Story, which the company is developing as a live-action film franchise in partnership with Michael Ende Productions.

Reflecting on her time at the company, Gregory stated: “I have had five wonderful and thrilling years at See-Saw Films, helping build on the company’s strong legacy. My thanks go to Iain and Emile for their trust and support, as well as to Pierre-Antoine Capton, Elisabeth d’Arvieu, and their teams at Mediawan, who have been a pleasure to work with. Working with Liz Watts and her team and building deep connections with Australia’s creative community has been an absolute privilege.”

Sherman and Canning added in concluding their statement: “We are hugely grateful to Helen for all her hard work over the past five years. Her creative instinct, relentless commitment to premium storytelling, and ability to attract and nurture top writers and directors have paved the way for our growth. A major portion of our strong slate, current hit shows, and exciting future projects is down to the talent and dedication of Helen and the creative team she built. We will miss her greatly and wish her all the best in the next chapter of her career.”