Shane Allen

Mash Report: 'comedy' more like Corbyn Party Political

Is there anything less funny than BBC comedy?

In his new memoir, How to Produce Comedy Bronze, former BBC head of comedy Jon Plowman allows himself what he calls a "moany bit" about how the influence of his former department has declined at the corporation. "It's not the force in fun that it once was and this is partly because of competition but also because of the hours of comedy that have been lost on the main channels because, apparently, on the main channels people don't want to laugh any more," he says.

The Beeb's current head of comedy, Shane Allen, tends to put things more succinctly. At a BBC press presentation in April 2015, his distinctive Northern Irish tones could clearly be heard heckling then BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw as she was introducting her slate of dramas for the new season: "Drama's fucking shite. It's all dead kids."

Terry Gilliam on diversity

The film-maker weighs in on the controversy surrounding BBC comedy chief Shane Allen's comment about ''six Oxbridge white blokes'.

Enough silly walks from BBC comedy. New voices please

The head of the corporation's comedy department has promised us greater diversity. About time too .

Not the Comedy Messiah - just a very naughty boy

Let's get one thing straight, neither 'white' nor 'Oxbridge' comedy is dead. It has not ceased to be, it has not expired, it is not ex-comedy.

John Cleese hits back at BBC boss

John Cleese has accused the BBC of "social engineering" after its head of comedy said Monty Python's white Oxbridge males were out of step with modern television.

'Oxbridge white blokes' have had their day

A young Monty Python would not get their big break on the BBC today because they are "six Oxbridge white blokes", the corporation's head of comedy has said as he launched a new drive for diversity.

BBC would shun Monty Python and Goodies today

Shows like Monty Python that feature "six Oxbridge white blokes" would not be commissioned by the BBC today, the corporation's head of comedy has admitted.

Comedy stars from John Cleese and Eric Idle to Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie built successful television careers after honing their craft at Cambridge Footlights, but the national broadcaster is now looking for more diversity.