BBC’s Lumsden Joins Sky1

LONDON: Lucy Lumsden is leaving the BBC after 11 years, having most recently served as the head of comedy commissioning, to join Sky1 as the channel’s head of comedy.

Lumsden takes on the role in fall. She’s served as the BBC’s comedy commissioner since 2005, having worked on shows such as Outnumbered, Reggie Perrin, Jam & Jerusalem, My Family and The Royle Family for BBC One and Down The Line, Psychoville, The Thick of It, Beautiful People, The Catherine Tate Show and Lead Balloon for BBC Two.

Stuart Murphy, the new director of programming at Sky1, said: "In everything we do we need to be the best, and Lucy is simply the best commissioner in the comedy business. Her track record is astonishing, from Gavin & Stacey to The Catherine Tate Show, from Lead Balloon to Green Green Grass, she has shown time and again that she is as comfortable working with new talent as she is with established names."

Murphy continued: "Comedy takes time to get right, and it’s an art not a science, but with Lucy at the helm it feels like we are giving ourselves the best chance of generating hits which our subscribers will love."

Lumsden added: "I’ve absolutely loved being at the BBC, but Stuart’s unstoppable enthusiasm for comedy is utterly infectious and I am really looking forward to working with him again. Sky1 has always delivered big on its programming promise and I’m excited about the opportunities for comedy."