Janice Hadlow

Hadlow on the hunt for comedies

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow is looking for more popular broad comedies in the pre-watershed slot, following the departure of Miranda to BBC One.

The most surprising gong of the night at this year's Bafta TV awards was the comedy programme prize which went to BBC2 sketch show Harry & Paul. This is the show, you will remember which was not entirely warmly welcomed by critics. The win will also have come as a surprise to the programme's two stars, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, who were otherwise engaged and unable to make the ceremony, and to BBC2 controller Janice Hadlow, who has not yet commissioned another series of the now Bafta-winning show. Busy diaries to blame, apparently. "It's early days," says a BBC insider. "Should know more in the next couple of weeks hopefully." Ruddy hell indeed.

Episodes Series 2

BBC Two's critically acclaimed international sitcom Episodeswill return for a new nine part series next year, written by David Crane (Friends) and Jeffery Klarik (Mad About You). The series has been re-commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two and BBC Controller of Comedy Commissioning, Cheryl Taylor.

BBC Two to boost number of female comedians

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow has revealed she wants to increase the number of women who appear in the channel's comedy and entertainment shows.

In deeply dispiriting but strangely not surprising news, BBC3 has axed Pulling, a decision that will persuade no one that Danny 'Phoo Action' Cohen isn't a moron. I suppose that without Pulling around, Coming Of Age won't look quite as atrocious but is that really reason enough to axe one of the finest comedies on TV? I suppose if there ever was a third series of Gavin and Stacey, Cohen would pass on that too because every recommission means one less space for a new project. You can only hope that one of Janice Hadlow's first decisions as controller of BBC2 would be to offer a home to Sharon Horgan and Dennis Kelly's marvellous comedy. Good knows it doesn't have anything remotely funny of its own at the moment. Unless you count Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful People. Which I don't.