I want to share some glorious announcements - we’ve got plenty to look forward to this year.
Unlike me, British comedy is in great shape - it’s filling arenas (Python, Peter Kay, Mrs Brown’s Boys) , it’s packing cinemas (Alan Partridge, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Inbetweeners), Comic Relief shows us at our very best. Generally on TV, radio and online there’s never been a greater amount and mix of shows - satire, comedy thrillers, comedy drama, studio sitcom, single camera narratives, sketch shows, animation, spoofs, mock docs - we are in rude health.This year we will be spending close to £60 million on 140 hours of originated comedy which covers nearly 60 different projects.
主播大秀 Comedy is about quality, range and risk. We make the comedy that people love the most – however that’s judged, through audiences and awards. Comedy needs a broad range because it’s incredibly subjective – Drama has it easy! There’s more commonality to what makes people cry, than what makes them laugh. So we want to offer you the full range of comedy programmes and allow creative people to keep doing their best work with us.
Firstly a homecoming - for 主播大秀 One we’ve got Tracey Ullman (pictured) returning to our screens to do what she does brilliantly – a multi-character sketch show. She’s won seven Emmys for her work and she’s always been the one who got away for British comedy - a huge talent and it’s an enormous privilege to welcome her back to the 主播大秀.
主播大秀 One is the hardest nut to crack in terms of delivering those big family treats across the year and recently we’ve seen recent monster hits in Mrs Brown's Boys, Miranda and Still Open All Hours being enjoyed by over 10 million people and they’ll be enjoyed for decades to come.
There’s a great myth around 主播大秀 One that mainstream comedy equals safe and bland – codswallop. Outnumbered and The Royle Family point to innovative ways to bring the family sitcom to life. I’m chuffed to have Peter Kay’s first 主播大秀 sitcom arriving in a few weeks – the really delightful Car Share, and not far off is a big colourful comedy romp in Suntrap with Kayvan Novak and Bradley Walsh. Also we’ve got 1970s set family sitcom The Kennedys (really strong female collaboration, written by Emma Kennedy and starring the marvellous Katherine Parkinson, directed by Christine Gurnham, produced by Emma Strain and exec'd by Myfanwy Moore.
主播大秀 comedy doesn’t shy from diversity… whether it’s a modern Muslim family in Citizen Khan, the ageing experience of Boomers, or Irish man in a dress…but I believe truly great comedy unifies an audience and surpasses any labels.
主播大秀 Two is especially where the range and risk come in. In the channel's comedy output we can do all three of the Reithian principles at once; inform, educate and entertain….
As well as making us laugh, comedy reflects and inform people’s worlds – in Boy Meets Girl - The UK’s first sitcom with a transgender lead and theme - we are opening out that experience in an authentic and engaging way.
In The Javone Prince show we present a modern black comedy voice – I want that to be a show that young black kids watch and think that not only is comedy for them but that television is a potential career avenue.
In Paul Whitehouse’s Nurse (on next week) – there’s backdrop of mental health and the wonderful characters he creates are presented in a very empathetic, compassionate and beautiful way and proves there is nothing comedy can’t tackle. The imminent returns of Inside Number 9 and W1A point to our variety and vibrancy.
I’m also thrilled about a Morgana Robinson pilot – there’s a lot of talk that the internet has killed off the sketch show – which I think is poppycock. Sketch shows are here to stay.
Another exciting announcement for 主播大秀 Two is that Harry and Paul are back soon to mark their 25 years together with their twisted version of An Audience with… Expect scabrous impressions and their unparalleled comedy lampooning that has seen them stay at the top of their game for decades.
One final treat for 主播大秀 Two is another welcome homecoming to Rory Bremner (pictured) who is back at the 主播大秀 with an election special later this year.
主播大秀 Three more than ever before is the life-blood of fresh talent. We’re doing nine new long form series. We are also introducing the chance to do off-the-cuff short form pieces, which will again grow new talent and allow us to be more reactive in this fast response social media world.
My vision is that we have one brand new long form episode released every week of the year – the first one is a series called Witless – starring Kerry Howard (pictured) – as one half of an odd couple who go into witness protection scheme with a brilliant griping narrative hook throughout the series. As has been publicised all new 主播大秀 Three comedies will have linear repeats on 主播大秀 One or Two.
主播大秀 Four has recently had a great success with its highest ever rated comedy in Detectorists and the door is open to big name talent doing passion pieces (as Mackenzie proved as his first time as writer and director).
Radio continues to be a powerhouse for comedy and with Sioned Wiliam arriving at the helm it’s a really exciting new era. So much talent has come through radio and continues to go back to radio. We plan to work ever closer to nurture careers and projects together (and repeat the successes of Little Britain, Mighty Boosh, League of Gentlemen and Miranda).
Lastly there’s a new world of possibility opening up from iPlayer exclusives – we’ve recently done Funny Valentines which attracted pieces from Bill Bailey with Emma Thompson, Russ Abbott, Nick Helm, Katy Wix, Matt Berry and we’ve lots more plans here to find a home for those innovative pieces whose size and shape doesn’t necessarily fit one of the channels and it really is liberating creative space.
Danny Cohen, the director of television says two things about comedy - it’s the hardest genre to get right, but they’re the shows that are loved the most and last the longest. Our commitment runs very deep, and it’s a big year I really hope you enjoy the amazing shows to come.
Shane Allen is Controller Comedy Commissioning
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