United Kingdom
Senior scripted comedy executive with over 20 years experience across development, production and commissioning for UK broadcasters and global platforms, currently Commissioning Editor for BBC Comedy. *** I’ve led production teams at major indies including Talkback, Objective, BBC Studios and Roughcut TV, delivering many hours of original and returning comedy. In 2018 I produced Trying, Apple TV+'s first original scripted comedy, before moving into a commissioning role in‑house at the streamer. I went on to create original comedy series Smothered for Sky Max, worked with Mercury Studios’ global scripted team and founded the North East Comedy Hot House to champion emerging regional comedy talent. Since joining BBC Comedy commissioning in 2022, I’ve worked across a wide slate of titles, from flagship returners including Gavin and Stacey, Alma’s Not Normal, Outnumbered and The Detectorists, to original commissions such as Dinosaur (Ashley Storrie), Small Prophets (Mackenzie Crook), Twenty Twenty Six (John Morton) and Better Later (Ruth Jones). I love comedy with warmth, heart and purpose. I’m a proud North Easterner based in London and a passionate advocate for regional representation and class inclusion in comedy. I’ve spearheaded numerous outreach and partnership initiatives, including the Tiger Aspect Development Producer Scheme, BBC Comedy Collective, BBC Comedy Grants, Regional Partnership Schemes and Script Partnership Projects - all designed to widen access and opportunity for emerging writers, producers and production companies across the UK.
Commissioning editor for comedy, eg: SMALL PROPHETS, LEONARD & HUNGRY PAUL, BETTER LATER, TWENTY TWENTY SIX, DINOSAUR, ALMA’S NOT NORMAL 2 + exec across legacy titles, eg: GAVIN & STACEY, THE DETECTORISTS, OUTNUMBERED
Scripted development consultant, working across Mercury Studios global drama and comedy slate.
Created and Exec Produced original comedy series SMOTHERED - 6 x 30 with Roughcut TV for Sky One, written by Monica Heisey, starring Danielle Vitalis & Jon Pointing
APPLE TV + 8 part comedy TRYING Series 1 - launching 1st May starring Rafe Spall. Esther Smith & Imelda Staunton