Producer Plowman's plea to broadcasters

And he said that although comedy is often perceived as expensive to make, it is comparable to drama – even though a big comedy hit has a much longer shelf life, through repeats and DVD sales, which means it could reap great rewards.

Making the introductory speech at the TV Comedy Forum in London’s Royal Opera House this morning, the former BBC comedy chief told broadcasters: ‘If you don’t put more comedy on, we won’t get better at it.’

He said that this week there were only two new scripted comedies on each of BBC One and BBC Two; but a decade ago there were five such shows on each channel. And ITV, which he mocked as ‘the credit crunch in colour’, had no scripted comedy this week.

Plowman conceded that ‘nursery’ channels such as BBC Three were making more comedies with up-and-coming talent but warned: ‘Let’s hope they have something to graduate on to.’

He added: ‘Generally, the landscape is bleak. If you want to laugh at the characters and circumstances of today, the cupboard is bare.

‘I am overlooking stand-up shows and formatted funnies like Mock The Week. These are good at jokes, but not character and plot. These don’t develop the Richard Curtises or Armando Iannuccis of the future.’

He said that comedy is the only genre that promises the viewer will have a good time, so the critical reaction when it fails can be savage. But he added: ‘When it works, it’s adored, people will buy it and it can be repeated again. People aren’t going to be buying boxed sets of Casualty this Christmas.

‘So why is there so little new comedy? Why is it treated so badly by broadcasters? Why is it funded so badly?

‘The common perception is the comedy isn’t as good as it used to be. Is it because the talent are not being given the chance, not given enough practice? If you don’t put any comedy on, we won’t get any better at it.’

Published: 18 Sep 2008