'We are getting there...'

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow says she wants to increase the number of female comedians seen on her channel.

The station has a strong track record for panel shows such as Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You and Shooting Stars, which have been criticised for being male-dominated.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Hadlow revealed that she was trying to create quiz shows ‘more welcome to women’, and was exploring the idea of commissioning one with a female host.

And she revealed that she had recently commissioned an improvisation format which she said had a ‘strong female presence’.

Hadlow said she agreed with claims made at the festival that more could be done to help funny women, and said she would like to air a landmark female-led comedy such as Absolutely Fabulous or the Catherine Tate Show.

‘We are on our way, we are getting there,’ she said, citing Miranda Hart and Ruth Jones as examples of ‘two interesting women doing interesting things’.

Published: 31 Aug 2010