Ben Frow heads back to Channel 5 as Director of Programmes
Northern and Shell has announced the appointment of Ben Frow as the new Director of Programmes for Channel 5. He takes over from the recently-departed Jeff Ford, who left the post in October.
Frow, a former Channel 5 Controller of Features and Entertainment, will lead all content and creative operations including commissioning and acquisitions starting from February 2013.

He is currently Director of Programming for Irish broadcaster TV3, where he is responsible for all programming, scheduling, promotions and original production for the channel.
 

Frow was Controller of Features and Entertainment at Channel 5 between 2004 and 2007, developing shows including The Diet Doctors, The Hotel Inspector, The Farm, Cosmetic Surgery Live and The Joan Rivers Position. Before that, he spent five years at Channel 4, developing shows including Ramsay¹s Kitchen Nightmares, Property Ladder, Jamie’s Kitchen and How Clean Is Your House.

Commenting on his appointment, Frow said: “The last five years in Ireland have been some of the most rewarding of my career, but I'm ready for a new challenge and the opportunity to re-join Channel 5 was simply too good to resist - we have unfinished business! I look forward to getting stuck in, building on the great work by Jeff Ford and the team, to create a strong schedule and some must-see, talk about, brand enhancing television.”
 

Paul Ashford, Group Editorial Director at Northern & Shell added: “I’m delighted to welcome Ben back to Channel 5. He has a proven track record in the TV industry and we’re very excited to hire someone of his calibre, who knows the channel from the inside,. I know he’ll build on our success and bring in fresh ideas.”
