BBC Comedy Chief Steps Down

LONDON, June 26: The BBC’s head of comedy, Jon Plowman, will
step down later this year in order to return to making shows for the
broadcaster.

Plowman took over responsibility for the BBC’s comedy output
in the 1990s and ushered in such hits as Absolutely Fabulous, French And
Saunders, The Office and Little Britain.

He will now executive produce a number of new shows for the
BBC, including Beautiful People, a new
family comedy by Jonathan Harvey (Gimme Gimme Gimme) based on the memoir Nasty by Simon Doonan, the creative director of Barney's
in New York; and Psychoville, a
dark character comedy mystery starring Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.
Both are for BBC Two. He will also be working with BBC Worldwide on a number of
potential international versions of BBC comedies as well as executive producing
a big Climate Change comedy
project for BBC One.

"I'm not gone yet but after 14 successful years I have
decided to return to the coalface and give someone else a go at one of the best
jobs in television,” Plowman said. “I hope to carry on my relationship with the
BBC and to continue to make great stuff both here and elsewhere… Even with the
upsurge of the indie sector, in-house BBC production remains the best place in
the world to make comedy and I am pleased to have been here and pleased to
continue making shows here. The BBC is respected for its serious content but it
is loved for its comedy and long may that continue."