Michael Jabob leaves after a decade

BBC comedy executive Micheál Jacob is to leave the corporation at the end of March.

Jacob has been a senior member of the comedy department for ten years, working on My Family, Whites and The Smoking Room among others, following a decade with Alomo Productions where he worked on Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart. He is currently executive producing a new series of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

He also ran the BBC College of Comedy, a training scheme for emerging writers, for three years.

He said: ‘In 20 years, I have been involved in 350 broadcast sitcom episodes, and developed the careers of 30 writers who have gone on to create produced series and screenplays, and to contribute to existing shows.

‘I have also worked with extraordinarily talented people on the screen and behind it. I plan to put that experience to use in the future. Being at the BBC has been a privilege. I’m glad to have spent ten years at the nerve centre of British comedy, and to have worked on the two most successful sitcoms of the past decade.’

Head of comedy Mark Freeland said: ‘So many people in comedy, performers, producers & especially writers have cause to be grateful to Micheál for making their lives better, through his wisdom and enthusiasm. For In House, it’s been a decade of real delight.’

It is thought Jacob is taking early retirement.

Published: 21 Feb 2011