Ben Armstrong

Experience

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  BBC

  Feb 2006 - Apr 2022

  • Inspired a team to devise, pitch and win lucrative commissions for a number of factual and entertainment formats, working closely with the commercial team to identify and secure co-producers where required• Worked closely with in-house executives to ensure continuing brands are constantly innovating• Secured key relationships with the Head of Content and Head of Production to ensure in-house were meeting any commissioning briefs and distribution requirements and led a team of 20 across Salford and Glasgow. Show less Responsible for developing new factual and factual-entertainment content across all of CBBC's digital platforms and channel as well as looking for new opportunities to work with commercial partners, allowing us to continually pitch big, bold ideas that our young audience will love to engage with.Commissions include 'Rank the Prank', a co-production with Apartment 11 in Canada which has been picked up by an international broadcaster and will be aired to over 500 million homes worldwide. Pocket Money Pitch, a business entertainment format giving kids the chance to work with some of the UK's top, young entrepreneurs to realise their business dreams and Taking the Next Step - a talent search giving one lucky kid in the UK, the chance to appear in the smash-hit dance-drama, The Next Step, produced by Temple Street Productions in Toronto. Show less

  • Series Producer, Blue Peter

    Oct 2019 - Apr 2022

  • Executive Producer, Match of the Day Kickabout

    Sept 2017 - Mar 2021

  • Series Producer, Can You Kick It

    Jan 2019 - Oct 2019

  • Head of Unscripted Development, BBC Children's Productions

    Jan 2018 - Dec 2018

  • Head of Development, CBBC

    Jul 2014 - Dec 2017

  • Studio Producer, Blue Peter & Producer, Blue Peter Specials

    Oct 2012 - Jun 2014

  • Live Gallery Producer

    Aug 2011 - Feb 2013

  • Producer/Director, Alesha's Street Dance Stars

    Feb 2011 - Jul 2011

  • Producer/Director, The One Show

    Jan 2009 - Feb 2011

  • Assistant Producer

    Feb 2006 - Feb 2009
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  BBC Studios

  Apr 2022 - Nov 2023

  • Returned to spearhead the development of factual and entertainment formats under the most recently formed pillar of BBC Studios, Kids & Family• Formed new business relationships with commissioners at Channel 5, Sky Kids and Apple TV+ as well as servicing our sister channels, CBBC & CBeebies and meeting their programming needs• Worked closely with several YouTube and TikTok content creators to develop long and short form series ideas for SVOD’s and linear broadcasters, nurturing new talent relevant to our Gen A audience demographic• Built new relationships and fostered already established connections with co-producers here in the UK and abroad Show less

  • Live Gallery Producer : Game On for BBC Children in Need, BBC THREE

    Sept 2023 - Nov 2023

  • Head of Unscripted Development, BBC Studios Kids & Family

    Apr 2022 - Sept 2023
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  Lifted Entertainment

  Jan 2024 - Mar 2024

  Producer/Director : The Voice UK, ITV Studios

  Created engaging backstories for contributors and produced the backstage elements pre and post their Blind Audition in front of will.i.am, LeAnn Rimes, Sir Tom Jones, Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher. Working at pace, this role took me across the UK, leading a small team and culminated in 6 studio records for series 13 of this iconic format

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  Self-employed

  Mar 2024 - now

  Freelance Producer | Edit Producer | Unscripted Development Exec

  Former BBC Exec and Series Producer with expertise in format and factual entertainment production and development. Excited to work with like-minded creatives across all aspects of linear and digital from seed to screen. Experience producing on hit shows from Dragons' Den to The Voice and in kids telly, leading teams on Blue Peter and Match of the Day Kickabout. Whether you need a producer/director on location, a calm and creative pair of hands for your live studio output, a keen storyteller in your edit, or some quick fire-power to bolster your development team - hit me up! Show less

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  Brilliant Trees Media Ltd

  Apr 2024 - now

  Development Executive

  Development Exec across a slate of concepts and formats for both television and corporate clients