ITV’s Director of Entertainment & Comedy Steps Down

LONDON: Elaine Bedell, ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy, has decided to step down at the end of February after seven years.

Bedell joined ITV in 2009. She has been responsible for commissioning and overseeing a wide-ranging slate of hit entertainment and comedy shows, including Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, You’re Back in the Room, Ninja Warrior UK and Birds of a Feather.

ITV’s director of television, Peter Fincham, said: “Elaine has been a tremendous colleague over the past seven years and has led the entertainment and comedy team with unswerving commitment and enormous flair. I can completely understand why she wants to seek new pastures and I wish her the very best of luck. I’ve had such fun working with Elaine and her team—she’s a class act.”

Kevin Lygo, who takes over from Fincham as director of television on February 1, added: ”Elaine has done a great job running entertainment and comedy at ITV. We have worked closely together during my time at ITV Studios and I am sorry that she has decided to step down, and that we won’t get a chance to work together when I cross the divide to look after the channels business. I wish her every success for the future.”

Bedell said: “I more or less arrived at ITV at the same time as Susan Boyle—and from that extraordinary audition moment on, it has been the most exhilarating seven years. I’ve had the privilege of being closely involved with some of the very best entertainment and comedy talent in the U.K. and worked with some exceptional producers—as well as the brilliant, unbelievably hard-working teams here at the network. I’m very proud of our output, but seven years is a long time to be a commissioner and it’s time for me to move on and let someone else make their mark. I wish Kevin all the very best—I know he will do a great job.”