Freeland back from indie sector

Freeland will take up his new job in September, replacing Jon Plowman who last month announced he was stepping down after 14 years, to return to programme-making.

He is currently a producer at independent company Hartswood Films, but from 2002 to 2005 he was head of comedy commissioning at the BBC, where he ordered series including Nighty Night, QI, The Catherine Tate Show and Mock The Week.

Freeland said: ‘I am very excited to be going back to the BBC as head of comedy. I am looking forward to leading a department that has an incredible heritage, an exciting present and a future of outstanding potential.’

Peter Salmon, chief creative officer of the BBC’s in-house production arm, BBC Vision, added: ‘Mark is stepping into one of the great jobs in British TV and radio. He is a much respected figure in the industry and brings with him a wealth of experience. Under Mark, comedy will continue to grow as one of the powerhouses of in-house BBC production.’

Before his last stint at the BBC, Freeland was head of original programmes at Sky One where he commissioned shows including Al Murray's Time Gentlemen Please, Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show and Paul Whitehouse's Jumpers For Goalposts.

Prior to this, Mark worked as a writer and script editor on comedy series for Channel 4 and BBC Two.

Published: 17 Jul 2007