James Farrell is now head of development

Mrs Brown’s Boys producer James Farrell has become head of development in the comedy department of BBC Studios.

His job will be to work on new programmes for the corporation’s production arm.

Farrell started his career as a script editor in the BBC comedy department before becoming a development producer.  

His credits include Our Ex-Wife, the 2016 pilot starring Robert Webb and Victoria Hamilton as a warring divorced couple; Crims, with Elis James as a prison inmate, and Flat TV with Tom Rosenthal and Naz Osmanoglu.

Since last year he has headed up production on Mrs Brown's Boys, including the live programme which broadcast last summer that was watched by nearly nine million viewers on the night.

Farrell was appointed by Chris Sussman, the head of comedy at BBC Studios.

He said: ‘James has a great editorial eye and an uncanny ability to attract the best talent in the business. As BBC Studios begins its exciting future, he’s going to play a key role in growing our development slate and building relationships with new broadcasting partners." ‘

Farrell – who takes up his role with immediate effect – added: ‘I couldn't be more thrilled to be taking the comedy development reins at such an exciting time for BBC Studios, and indeed such an exciting time to be making television. And I look forward to turning Chris Sussman's strong and stable leadership into a coalition of chaos…’

BBC Studios – which has made The Office, Only Fools and Horses, Miranda and W1A, among many others – launched as a commercial business in April,  able to make programmes for other UK and international broadcasters as well as the BBC.

Published: 14 Jun 2017