Lewis Arnold

Director

Add to shortlist

Film, TV & Theatre

Agent: Michelle Archer
Associate Agent: Grace Baxter

Film, TV & Theatre

Lewis has just finished directing all 7 parts of THE LONG SHADOW for New Pictures/ITV.  Prior to this he directed James Graham’s SHERWOOD for House Productions/BB1 and Jimmy McGovern’s TIME for BBC Studios starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. All three shows were nominated for multiple TV BAFTAs in 2022/23/24, with TIME going on to win Best Mini-Series, as well as Lewis being nominated in the Best Director Category in both 2022 for TIME and most recently in 2024 for THE LONG SHADOW. 

In 2020 he directed and executive produced DES for New Pictures and ITV, having created the three-part drama with writer Luke Neal. The series won the International Emmy Award for Best Performance By An Actor in 2021, and was also nominated for Best TV Movie/Mini-Series. The first episode had consolidated viewing figures of 11.4 million making it ITV's biggest new series since the launch of series CLEANING UP in January 2019, a show which he developed with writer Mark Marlow, directing the first four episodes for Sister Pictures.

It was on graduating from the National Film and Television School in March 2013, that Lewis embarked on directing his first TV project, directing with two episodes of the final series of BAFTA-winning C4 show, MISFITS. He followed this up by directing the first four episodes of Russell T Davies’s new E4 show, BANANA, and was named a Broadcast Magazine Hotshot 2014 for his work on both shows.

Other credits include BROADCHURCH and HUMANS, which became Channel 4's most successful original drama in over 20 years when it aired in 2015. After directing two episodes on series one, he was asked back a year later to direct the lead block of the second series for Kudos and AMC.

Lewis is also represented in the US by Matt Greenberg and Jon Cassir at CAA.

 

SHERWOOD

The Guardian - 5*

The Times - 4*

The Financial Times - 4*

The Telegraph - 4*

 

“the BBC’s latest – and let me say up top, one of its greatest – drama series. The cleverest, most compelling show I’ve seen in years” The Guardian, Lucy Mangan

“This is going to be a knotty, complicated story, but I doubt it could be in better hands” The Times, Carol Midgley

 

TIME

The Guardian - 5*

The Financial Times - 5*

The Times - 4*

The Telegraph - 4*

 

"“striking direction from Lewis Arnold, ensures that these three hour-long episodes are difficult but essential viewing” Evening Standard. Katie Rosseinsky

“…compelling television, with a premium cast and written like a punch to the face. In a good way.” The Times, Carol Midgley

“Time is a necessary lesson on the British prison system and a masterclass in acting.” The Metro, Billy Schwabb Dunn

“Under the gaze of director Lewis Arnold, every line, every flicker of emotion on those two famous faces is pushed to the fore… BBC One prison drama is brutal, must-watch television.” Radio Times, Flora Carr

 

DES

The Times - 5*

The Financial Time - 5*

The Telegraph - 5*

The Guardian - 4*

 

“Rare it is to watch a drama about a serial killer that leaves you feeling as though the victims have been done a service. In the end, perhaps the greatest accolade that can be given this sensitive, finely worked piece is that Nilsen himself, attention-seeking narcissist though he was, would surely have hated it.” The Guardian, Lucy Mangan

“Superb: restrained, too, given the subject matter and sensitivities, and all the better for it.” Euan Ferguson, The Guardian. 

“Phenomenal”, Hugo Rifkind, The Times.

 

Television

ProductionCompanyNotes

THE LONG SHADOW

2022 - 2023

New Pictures/ITV

Director and Executive Producer.
All 7 Episodes.
Writer: George Kay.
Producer: Matt Sandford.
Series Producer: Sarah Lewis.
Executive Producers: Willow Grylls and George Kay
Starring: Toby Jones, Katherine Kelly, Daniel Mays and David Morrissey
Nominated for Best Limited Series, BAFTAs, 2024
Nominated for Best Director, BAFTAs, 2024

SHERWOOD

2021

House Productions/BBC 1

Lead Director and Executive Producer.
Writer: James Graham
Producer: Rebecca Hodgson
Executive Producers: Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross, Harriet Spencer and Ben Irving
Starring: David Morrissey, Lesley Manville, Adeel Akhtar
*Winner for Best Performance in a Drama at the RTS North West Awards 2022 (Adeel Akhtar)
*Winner for Best Drama RTS Awards 2023 (Adeel Akhtar)
*Winner for Best Supporting Actor at the BAFTA TV Awards 2023 (Adeel Akhtar)
*Winner for Best Drama Series at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2023
*Nominated for Best Drama Series at the BAFTA Awards 2023

TIME

2020

BBC Studios

Director and Executive Producer.
3 part series.
Writer: Jimmy McGovern
Producer: Simon Maloney
Starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham
*Winner for Best Mini-Series at the BAFTA Awards 2022
*Winner for Best Leading Actor (Sean Bean)
*Nominated for Best Director at the BAFTA Awards 2022
*Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Stephen Graham) at the BAFTA Awards 2022
*Nominated for Best Limited Series at the RTS Awards 2022
* Winner for Best Production - RTS Midlands Awards 2021
* Nominated for Best Drama at the Rose d'Or Awards 2021
* Nominated for Best Director - Drama at the RTS Craft & Design Awards 2021
*Winner of Best Actor, Stephen Graham at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2023
* Winner for Best Performance in a Drama at the RTS North West Awards 2021 - Sean Bean
* Winner for Best Script Writer at RTS North West Awards 2021 - Jimmy McGovern
* Nominated for Best Drama Series at the RTS North West Awards 2021
*Nominated for Best Drama at the Edinburgh TV Awards 2022
*Nominated for Best New Drama at The National Television Awards 2022

DES

2019 - 2020

New Pictures/ITV

Co-Creator and Executive Producer.
3-part drama series:
Consolidated viewing figures of 11.4m.
Writer: Luke Neal
Starring David Tennant, Daniel Mays and Jason Watkins.
*WINNER for Best Performance by an Actor at the International Emmy Awards 2021 - David Tennant
*WINNER for Best Drama Performance at NTA 2021 - David Tennant
*Nominated for Best TV Movie/Mini-Series at the International Emmy Awards 2021
*Nominated for Best Drama Series or Serial at the Broadcast Awards 2021
*Nominated for Best Individual Performance in a Drama Series at the C21 Awards 2020 - David Tennant
*Nominated for Best Miniseries at the C21 Awards 2020
*Nominated for Best Casting of a Drama Series at the C21 Awards 2020
*Nominated for Best Drama Series at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2021
*Nominated for Best Actor at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2021 - David Tennant
*Nominated for New Drama at NTA 2021
*Nominated for the Audience Award at The Scottish Baftas 2021 - David Tennant

DARK MONEY

2018 - 2019

The Forge/ BBC 1

Director and Associate Producer.
4-part drama series.
Writer: Levi David Addai
Executive Producers: Mark Pybus, George Faber and Lucy Richer
Starring: Babou Ceesay and Jill Halfpenny

CLEANING UP

2017 - 2018

Sister Pictures/ITV

Co-creator and Lead Director
6 part drama series.
Writer: Mark Marlow.
Exec Producer: Jane Featherstone, Chris Fry.
Starring Sheridan Smith

BROADCHURCH 3

2016 - 2017

Kudos/ ITV

Episode 6.
Writer: Chris Chibnall.
Producer: Dan Winch.
Exec Producers: Chris Chibnall, Jane Featherstone.
Starring Olivia Colman and David Tennant.
*BAFTA nominated for Best Supporting Actress, 2018.
*National TV Awards 2018 - Best Crime Drama
*TV Choice Awards - Best Drama
*C21 Drama Awards - Best Returning Drama Series

HUMANS 2

2016

Kudos/ C4/ AMC

Lead Director.
Producer: Paul Gilbert.
Exec Producers: Chris Fry and Derek Wax.
*Digital Spy Reader Awards 2016 - Best Drama

PREY 2

2015

Red Productions/ ITV

Director. 3-part serial. 3 x 60'.
Writer: Chris Lunt.
Producer: Tom Sherry.
Exec Producer: Nicola Shindler.
Starring Philip Glenister and Rosie Cavaliero.

HUMANS

2014

Kudos/ C4/ AMC

2 episodes.
Producer: Chris Fry.
Exec Producers: Derek Wax, Jane Featherstone.
*Highest rated original drama for Channel 4 in over 20 years.
*Televisual Bulldog Awards - Best Drama Series
*Nominated for Best New Drama, National Television Awards, 2016.
*Nominated for Best Drama Series and Radio Times Audience Award, BAFTA Television Awards, 2016.
*Nominated for Best Drama in the RTS Programme Awards, 2016.
*Nominated for Best Genre Series in the Satelite Awards, 2016
*Nominated for Best Drama Series in the Broadcast Awards, 2016

BANANA

2014

Red Productions/ E4

Lead Director.
First 4 episodes.
New Series created and written by Russell T Davies.
Producer: Emily Feller.
Exec Producers: Nicola Shindler and Russell T Davies.
*RTS North West - Best Performance in a Single or Drama Series – Fisayo Akinade

MISFITS

2013

Clerkenwell Films/ E4

2 episodes.
Producer: Nick Pitt.
Exec Producers: Petra Fried and Murray Ferguson.

Short Films

ProductionCompanyNotes

CHARLIE SAYS

2013

National Film and Television School

Director. 23' drama.
Writer: Frances Poletti.
Starring Elliot Tittensor and Conner Chapman.
* World Premier Screening at Edinburgh International Film Festival, 2013.
* Screened at the Fresh Film Fest, Prague International Festival of First Features and Student Films, 2013.
* Selected for Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, 2013.
* Selected for the London Short Film Festival, 2013.
* WINNER of the International Competition: Best Short Film at the Talca International Short Film Festival, 2013.
* Screened at 7th British Shorts Film Festival, Berlin, 2013.
* Selected for the 18th Sofia International Film Festival.
* Screened at FlatPack Film Festival, Birmingham 2014.
* Screened at Festival Internacional Colchagua Cine 2014.
* Screened at Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival 2014.
* Screened at 24th International student short film festival of Cergy-Pontoise.
* Screened at Cambridge Film Festival 2014.
* Screened at Bestival 2014; Desert Island Flicks.
* Screened at Worcestershire Film Festival 2014.
* WINNER of both Best Director and Best Cinematography at the Colchester Film Festival 2014.

ECHO

2012

National Film and Television School

Director. 16' drama.
Writer: James Walker.
* Winner of Special Commendation at the Isle of Wight Film Festival, 2013.
* Winner Best Editor at 30th Tehran International Short Film Festival, 2013.
* Screened at International Film Festival Rotterdam, 2013.
* Screened at London Short Film Festival, 2013.
* Screened at Glasgow Short Film Festival, 2013.
* Screened at Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam, 2013.
* Screened at Flatpack Festival, Birmingham, 2013.
* Nominated for RNC Special Award at the This is England Festival, 2013.
* Selected for the International Competition at Tabor Film Festival, 2013.
* Selected for the International Competition at XVI Guanajuato International Film Festival, 2013.
* Screened at Fresh Film Fest International Festival of First Features and Student Films, 2013.
* Nominated for International Competition at 2Annas, 2013.
* Screened at Zone 180 Shorts 4 Talk London, 2013.
* Screened at Festival Internacional de Curtas do Rio de Janeiro, 2013.
* Screened at The Beloit International Film Festival.
* Screened at Rapid Eye Movement, Coventry.
* WINNER of Best Acting at the Watersprite: The Cambridge International Student Film Festival.
* Screened at 24th International student short film festival of Cergy-Pontoise.
* Screened at Worcestershire Film Festival 2014.
* WINNER Best Short Film at National Film Awards 2015.

STAINED

2009

UK Film Council/Screen WM

Director. 16' drama. Based on Ronnie Thompson’s book ‘Screwed’.
Featuring Ricci Harnett, Frank Harper and Craig Conway.
* Screened at 50th Krakow Film Festival, 2010.
* Screened at Brussels Short Film Festival, 2010.
* Screened at Saguenay International Short Film Festival, 2011.
* Screened at EUShorts Short Film Festival, 2010.
* Screened at Singapore International Film Festival, 2010.
* Screened at XXVIII International Film Festival of Uruguay, 2010.
* Nominated for Best Production Craft – Director at Regional RTS Awards, 2010.
* Nominated for Best Short Film at Regional RTS Awards, 2010.
* Winner Best Film at Zone 180 Shorts 4 Talk, 2013.

SPIRITED

2008

UK Film Council / Screen WM

Director. 13' drama.
Featuring the late Margaret John and Joe Dempsie.
* Nominated for Best Fictional at Regional RTS Award, 2009.

In Development

ProductionCompanyNotes

PLAYING DEAD

2020

Pia Pressure

Director and Writer.
Feature Film.
Executive Producer: James Durrant.

HIM

2020

Protagonist Pictures

Director and Co-creator.
Feature Film.
Executive Producer: Len Rowles.

BULLY

2020

Pia Pressure/Stray Bear Films

Director and Co-creator.
Feature Film.
Writer: Amelia Spencer.
Executive Producer: James Durrant and Ivana Mackinnon.

THE FICTIONAL MAN

2019

The Forge

Director.
TV adaptation of the original Al Ewings novel.

Promos

ProductionCompanyNotes

'HIGHER’ Wookie ft Zak Abel

ROKKIT / MANCHU RECORDINGS

'Millionaire' SCOUTING FOR GIRLS

2013

ROKKIT/SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

‘Meet Me Halfway’ FUTUREHEADS

2012

NFTS / BIGLIFE MANAGEMENT

Starring Ricci Harnett.

‘Sunken Low’ LITTLE FRIEND

2012

NFTS / ROKKIT

Starring Jo Hartley.
* Screened in Music Video Showcase at Raindance Film Festival, 2013.