The Stage

Hat Trick’s Taylor takes BBC regional comedy

Published Tuesday 16 August 2005 at 15:20 by Liz Thomas

Hat Trick Production’s Cheryl Taylor will join the BBC next month to head the Corporation’s so-called “out of London” comedy division.

The newly-created role is part of the broadcaster’s bid to tackle criticism that its approach to commissioning is too London-based. Taylor will have a £9 million budget dedicated to developing pitches and proposals from both in-house and independent producers in the nations and regions. She will report to acting head of comedy Lucy Lumsden.

Lumsden said: “Cheryl is hugely talented and respected in the industry. I’m thrilled that she has decided to come to the BBC.”

Taylor began her career working on Comic Relief before becoming commissioning editor for comedy at Channel 4. Most recently, she was head of comedy at Hat Trick Productions, working on shows such as The Worst Week of My Life and Bromwell High.

The Corporation’s comedy department is going through a difficult period with executives failing to find a permanent head of commissioning since Mark Freeland left to join Men Behaving Badly producer Hartswood Films in April. While Lumsden is filling the role temporarily, the BBC has declined to say if they are still actively looking for a replacement.

• Comedian Lee Mack is expected to be announced as the new host of They Think It’s All Over. The show, which ran for ten years, was not recommissioned for this year’s BBC1 schedule. However new controller Peter Fincham has earmarked the programme to return as part of his attempts to boost the channel’s comedy line-up.