Lumsden named BBC comedy controller

Lucy Lumsden has been named as the BBC's first controller of comedy commissioning.

The creation of the post sees commissioning of entertainment and comedy programmes separated for the first time.

"These are exciting times for comedy and I'm passionate about maintaining quality, risk-taking and aiming high with ideas to serve our audiences across all four channels," said Lumsden.

"I'm really looking forward to building the commissioning team and working closely with the wealth of talent from both in-house production and the independent sector to push comedy forward into uncharted waters."

Lumsden has worked with the BBC's independent comedy team for the last seven years, taking responsibility for hits such as The Catherine Tate Show, Monkey Dust and Nighty Night.

Jana Bennett, director of television, added: "Comedy is a unique genre and key to the BBC's future. Not only does it make us laugh but it touches audiences in a special and distinctive way.

"Lucy has done so much in the past few years with the independent sector to build the BBC's unchallenged reputation for comedy that I am in no doubt that she, working with our brilliant in-house and independent teams, will continue to find the best programmes."