BBC’s Comedy And Film Units Combine Forces

BBC Comedy is joining forces with the Corporation's film department to develop a slate of comedy feature films utilising the best of UK writers, performers and producers. David Thompson, head of BBC Films, and Kenton Allen, creative head of Comedy Talent and Comedy North will lead the development initiative, along with head of comedy Jon Plowman. The initiative will explore the potential to develop existing brands such as Funland.

Allen said: "Many of the comedy talent we work with ultimately want to paint on a bigger canvas, and this relationship with BBC Films means that we can now offer them that opportunity. From initial development in radio and the internet, through television and on to film, BBC Comedy can offer the best comedy talent the best possible development path for their work."

Earlier this year Allen won an Academy Award for his short film Six Shooter.

Thompson said: "Comedy is very much a target area for us at the moment, with several interesting projects in development, the recent successful releases of Debbie Isitt's Confetti and Michael Winterbottom's A Cock & Bull Story."