Freeland Returns To BBC As Head Of Comedy

Mark Freeland is to take up one of the key creative roles in the BBC – across an area that has produced many of Britain's best loved and influential series from 'Only Fools And Horses' to 'The Office' to 'Little Britain' to 'The Thick Of It' – when he returns to the BBC as its newly appointed Head of Comedy for Vision Studios.
Freeland joins from Hartswood Films and takes up his post in September, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in TV and comedy. He will be in charge of in-house comedy production across all four television networks as well as radio comedy and entertainment, working with some of Britian's most acclaimed producers, writers and performers.
Between 2002 and 2005, Mark was Head of Comedy Commissioning at the BBC, and responsible for commissioning, executive producing and developing comedy across the four BBC channels – working closely with in-house and independent production teams.
Series included ‘Nighty Night’, ‘QI’, ‘Early Doors’, ‘The Worst Week Of My Life’, ‘The Catherine Tate Show’, ‘The Kumars At No 42’, ‘The Mighty Boosh’, ‘Sensitive Skin’, ‘Alistair McGowan's Big Impression’, ‘Look Around You’, ‘Marion And Geoff’ and ‘Mock The Week’ to name but a few.
Freeland will take up his job at BBC Television Centre on 3 September, replacing Jon Plowman who announced he was stepping down last month to return to programme-making with the BBC after 14 years at the helm.
BBC Comedy Studio is currently making a wide range of programmes for all networks from the likes of Jam And Jerusalem and The Life And Times Of Vivienne Vyle from the pen of Jennifer Saunders, a christmas special of Extras from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, a second series of the BAFTA award-winning That Mitchell And Webb Look for BBC Two, to newer titles like Spacehopper and The Visit for BBC Three from it's fast growing Comedy North stable in Manchester.
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, 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 and relationships from across the UK production sector that will prove vital for one of the key creative jobs in the entire BBC. Under Mark, comedy will continue to grow as one of the powerhouses of in-house BBC production."
Between 1997 and 2002, Freeland was Head of Original Programmes at Sky One where he commissioned and executive produced shows across comedy, factual entertainment and drama including 'Dream Team', Al Murray's 'Time Gentlemen Please', Harry Enfield's 'Brand Spanking New Show', Paul Whitehouse's 'Jumpers For Goalposts.'
(DS)