Ben Frow, Head, Channel 5, to step down

Frow has been credited with revitalising 5 with a series of original commissions such as All Creatures Great and Small, Michael Palin in…, The Yorkshire Vet, Cruising With Jane McDonald, and Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards.

5 won BAFTA and Royal Television Society awards in 2024 for White Nanny, Black Child, and was named Channel of the Year at the Edinburgh TV Festival in 2025.

In an email to her staff, Reemah Sakaan, President, 5, said Frow would step down from his day-to-day role in the summer of 2027. He will remain employed until the end of next year.

“His exceptional creative skills, obsession with our audience, and fiery competitive spirit have led an acclaimed creative transformation of the network and have overseen a phenomenal range of hits,” Sakaan said. “I have only worked with Ben for a short while this year, but it has been an utter joy, so I have some sense of just how much he will be missed.”

Frow said in a company memo: “I have always said that this was the best job in the world, and I’ve absolutely loved my time at 5. But after 14 years, I’ve achieved everything I wanted to and more; it seems like the right time to hand over and give someone else a go. This isn’t a goodbye just yet, and I’ll be around to support Reemah and the team with a smooth transition.”

News of his departure comes a week after Skydance, home to Paramount, completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Discover more here.