BBC appoints new comedy commissioner

The BBC has recruited Cheryl Taylor from independent producers Hat Trick to join its comedy commissioning team.

Part of her job will be to spend a £9 million budget on developing comedy shows from outside London.

Until recently Taylot was head of comedy at Hat Trick, where  she produced BBC One’s The Worst Week of My Life, animated Channel 4  comedy Bromwell High, and a pilot for  ITV called Plenty More Fish.

Before that, she was commissioning editor for comedy at Channel 4, responsible for the likes of Black Books, Spaced and Derren Brown's Mind Control.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Her role will help to build on BBC comedy successes such as Scotland's Still Game, and the enviable track record of BBC Comedy North with a second series of Ideal in the pipeline.’

Lucy Lumsden, acting head of comedy commissioning, said: ‘Cheryl is hugely talented and respected in the industry. I'm thrilled that she has decided to come to the BBC.’

She starts her new job on September 5.

Published: 11 Aug 2005