Stephanie Wessell

Stephanie Wessell is a Bristol-based specialist factual series producer and producer-director, specialising in first series, drama reconstruction and presenter-led history. She has produced and directed factual programming in all genres for broadcasters and streamers since the mid-1990s.

Stephanie’s  notable series producer credits include Kate Garraway’s Life Stories (ITV, 2023) and the Buzzie-nominated Unearthed: Ancient Murder Mysteries (Curiosity/ZDF, 2023). She has been producer-director on various longform programming, including the Visionary-nominated Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black & White (ITV, 2021); Shop Well for Less and Shop Well for the Planet (BBC One, 2021); Elizabeth and Margaret: Love and Loyalty (Channel 5, 2020); and Victorian Murder Files (Discovery+, 2024). She produced Back in Time for School, Who Do You Think You Are? and the drama Charles I: Killing a King, all for the BBC (2019). She also produced and directed various films for The One Show (2016-2017) and has led its development teams at BBC Cardiff.

One of her passions is in the hybrid space combining specialist factual filmmaking with fiction, because her background includes creating scripted content. She’s independently written and directed drama and comedy short films, some nominated for awards.

Stephanie is co-founder and co-director of grassroots organisation BUNS (Bristol Unscripted Network), running events and training for freelancers in the South West. A trained journalist, she enjoys moderating industry panels, interviewing filmmakers for large live audiences, and consulting. Stephanie also tutors Story for Documentary and Factual Content through learning provider John Yorke Story, and offers industry mentoring. She is on the verge of completing virtual production training and is also writing a novel.