Leading Bristol-based independent premium factual production company Humble Bee Films announced that Richard Thomson has joined the company as Executive Chair.

Former Wall to Wall Managing Director Thomson, who has also previously held senior management roles at Tiger Aspect, Endemol and Optomen Television has joined the Attenborough’s Life in Colour producer after working with the business for two years in a freelance Non-Executive Director capacity.

Humble Bee Films was launched in 2010 by former BBC Natural History Unit producer Stephen Dunleavy. The company specialises in making high-end factual programming for a range of international broadcasters.

The company’s previous productions include ‘Attenborough’s Life in Colour’ for the BBC, Netflix and Channel Nine Australia, ‘David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities’ for UKTV, BBC Worldwide and BBC2; ‘Attenborough and the Giant Elephant’ for BBC One and CBC and ‘Amazing Pigs’ for Terra Mater Factual Studios, Smithsonian Channel and Arte.

The company’s recent Netflix commission Wild Babies, a blue chip natural history series revealing the secret lives of wild baby animals, narrated by award-winning actress Helena Bonham Carter has just launched globally on the streaming service.

Humble Bee Films Chief Executive Stephen Dunleavy said, “We have been working with Richard for a couple of years in a Non-Exec capacity and the company has benefitted from his broad experience, particularly as we ventured into the world of streamers. We are delighted he has agreed to be with us on a more permanent basis as we continue to grow and diversify the company.”

“Having spent so much of my career at large super-indies, it has been really interesting working with a truly independent company, which has such a great reputation for making brilliant programmes. I am very much looking forward to being part of the continued growth of this exciting and talented company,” said Richard Thomson, Executive Chair of Humble Bee Films.