Shane Allen


BBC Comedy commissions place emphasis on new voices and diversity

Shane Allen, controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning, has unveiled a broad slate of new comedy series for the full range of the UK broadcaster’s channels. Highlights include a 60th Birthday Special for Lenny Henry and a high-concept sitcom for BBC1 called Ghosts. Efforts to improve onscreen diversity include a BBC3 sitcom about three modern Muslim […]

BBC Three orders comedy from People Just Do Nothing star

BBC Three has commissioned a new comedy by People Just Do Nothing star Lily Brazier, named Wannabe. Filming has begun on the series, which stars and is co-written by Brazier. The title will premiere on BBC on-demand service BBC iPlayer in March. It follows Brazier’s Maxine, a 1990s pop star wannabe who tries to bring […]

John Cleese to star in BBC One comedy

Sitcom legend John Cleese is to star in a six-part comedy for UK pubcaster the BBC. The Monty Python and Fawlty Towers actor (pictured) will appear alongside Alison Steadman and Jason Watkins in Edith, which will play on BBC One. The plot follows a long-widowed woman (Steadman), who is being courted by a neighbour (Cleese). […]

Sam Bain comedy set for iPlayer & BBC Two

An upcoming three-part comedy from Peep Show writer Sam Bain will debut on the BBC iPlayer service before airing on UK terrestrial broadcaster BBC Two. Ill Behaviour’s release model is the latest example of the UK’s pubcaster using its on-demand service as a platform to attract traditional and on- demand audiences with the same content. […]

Sam Bain comedy set for iPlayer & BBC Two

An upcoming three-part comedy from Peep Show writer Sam Bain will debut on the BBC iPlayer service before airing on UK terrestrial broadcaster BBC Two. Ill Behaviour’s release model is the latest example of the UK’s pubcaster using its on-demand service as a platform to attract traditional and on- demand audiences with the same content. […]

BBC looks to Valentine’s Day laughs

The BBC has commissioned a Valentine’s Day special from an emerging British comedian. Luisa Omielan’s stand-up show ‘What Would Beyoncé Do?!’ has been running since 2012, but this will be her British TV debut. The special, from King Bert Productions, will be filmed at London’s Clapham Grand on 19 January 2017 and air on online-online […]

Laughing matters at the Edinburgh Int’l TV Festival

Shane Smith and his plan to take over the media world dominated delegate chatter at the Edinburgh International Television Festival last week. Jesse Whittock wonders what the Vice boss would make of the BBC’s latest comedy efforts. During his MacTaggart Memorial lecture on Wednesday, which met with a mixed reaction (at best), Vice Media CEO […]

BBC names new comedy commissioning editor

UK pubcaster the BBC has appointed ex-CPL Productions producer Alex Moody as commissioning editor, comedy. She replaces Chris Sussman, who was recently promoted to head up the BBC’s comedy department and replace Myfanwy Moore. She will join Kristian Smith and Kate Daughton on controller of comedy commissioning Shane Allen’s team, and will oversee a slate […]

BBC Two delivers Victorian medicine comedy

UK terrestrial BBC Two ha ordered a comedy from Lucky Giant about four pioneering young medical professionals in Victorian England. Quacks will star Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans) as a psychiatrist, Rory Kinnear (Skyfall) as a showman surgeon, Tom Basden (Plebs) as a hedonistic anaesthetist, and Lydia Leonard (River) as a head strong social campaigner. […]

BBC to rework lost sitcom scripts

UK pubcaster the BBC will recreate three classic ‘lost’ sitcom episodes, as part of a three-channel comedy project this year. Arts channel BBC Four will air the lost episodes of Hancock’s Half Hour, Steptoe and Son and Till Death Do Us Part. The episodes – Hancock’s Half Hour’s ‘The New Neighbour’, Steptoe and Son’s ‘A […]