Channel 4 Appoints Head of Comedy

Channel 4 has named Charlie Perkins as head of comedy, joining from Blink Industries.

Perkins previously served as head of comedy at Blink Industries, having begun her career working on shows such as Little Britain, French & Saunders, Benidorm and Mock the Week, moving on to become a producer at the alternative comedy venue The Invisible Dot, BBC Radio Comedy and Cave Bear Productions. In 2009, Perkins founded the Bristol Revunions, whose alumni during her time included Jamie Demetriou, Charlotte Ritchie, Ellie White and Joe Hampson. In 2013, Perkins founded The Paddock comedy collective, an experimental, new material platform for performers and filmmakers. She is also one of the co-founders of the Live Comedy Association and founder of the Free-Free Movement.

At Channel 4, Perkins will report directly to Ian Katz, chief content officer, and will manage a team comprising newly promoted commissioning editor Laura Riseam and commissioning executive Joe Hullait. Perkins will also oversee the appointment of a new senior commissioning editor.

Katz said: “Channel 4 comedy has always been about betting on brilliant and iconoclastic new talent, and Charlie is squarely in that tradition. She has an unerring ear for funny, has nurtured and collaborated with some of Britain’s most exciting and distinctive comedy talent and had an ambitious and original vision for the future of Channel 4 comedy. With a succession of wonderful shows from Derry Girls to We are Lady Parts and Big Boys, Fiona McDermott has delivered a purple patch for Channel 4 comedy and, along with Laura and Joe, I’m convinced that Charlie will continue that success.”