Danny Cohen (I)

Milton Jones: female panel show quota counterproductive

As the 13th series of the news quiz kicked off on BBC Two last night, the master of the one-liner says that BBC TV boss Danny Cohen is wrong to insist on a rule and that change must come naturally.

Interview: Dara O'Briain

Dara O Briain has just finished working on a new series of School of Hard Sums in which he solves formidable mathematical problems with the help of kebabs, curries and cakes (and maths genius Marcus du Sautoy). Now he's working out a simpler equation. A couple of weeks ago, the BBC's head of television, Danny Cohen, announced a ban on all-male panels in comedy shows. The programme most regularly cited for being male-dominated is Mock the Week, the bear pit of panel shows that O'Briain has chaired for nine years.

BBC boss Mark Freeland promoted

Mark Freeland, currently Controller of Comedy Production, has been appointed by Danny Cohen, Director of BBC Television, to the newly created position of Controller of Fiction & Entertainment.

BBC One sitcoms are 'hard nut to crack'

Both the BBC's controller of comedy commissioning Cheryl Taylor and BBC One controller Danny Cohen have recently said there is a dearth of comedies being pitched to BBC One. That's because producers don't want to risk failure in front of the whole nation, argues In With The Flynns executive producer Jamie Glazebrook.

Nothing's funnier than middle-class sitcoms

Let's take the middle classes out of sitcom, says BBC1 controller Danny Cohen. The prospect of a cultural revolution in sitcom is not reassuring. Without the middle classes, much of our funniest TV ceases to exist.

A comedy drama aimed at the working classes. Just what BBC boss Danny Cohen has been asking for. It's about a female taxi firm and you can pretty much write the rest yourself. Not as funny, loveable or clever as it should be - but that's balanced out by it being incredibly patronising. Jo Joyner reprises her northern bit from No Angels, Paul Kaye repeats every role from the last 10 years and Claire Sweeney reminds you that she's alive. Unfortunately.

Mrs. Brown's Boys returns for a second series!

Good news for all fans of our favourite Irish matriarch from the BBC Press Office...

BBC One's hit comedy Mrs. Brown's Boys has been recommissioned for a second series by Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC One, and Cheryl Taylor, Controller, Comedy Commissioning.

Review: Friday Night Dinner

In fear of sounding too much like the new controller of BBC One, Danny Cohen, who has apparently decided there are too many middle-class sitcoms on the channel, Friday Night Dinner did leave us gagging for some Shameless or Only Fools and Horses. Their dinners were so much more fun.