Isles moved to Manchester in 2005 to take up the role of talent producer for BBC Comedy North, the corporation's comedy unit based in Manchester, and in 2007 left to head up the northern arm of Steve Coogan's company Baby Cow. Whilst at Baby Cow Isles produced shows including Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special, four series of the award-winning Ideal starring Johnny Vegas, the second series of the comedy drama Starlings for Sky and BBC2 sitcom Hebburn.