Shane Allen plans British Comedy Foundation

Shane Allen and the BBC have announced they are establishing the "British Comedy Foundation".

The corporation confirms: "Opening the doors to new voices and furthering the impact of British comedy, Allen plans to cultivate a comedy community backed advocacy group."

The foundation will have three main purposes:

1. To engage and enable and enrich the under-represented and under-privileged
2. To be a catalytic body for industry opportunities, challenges and partnerships
3. To celebrate heritage and promote British comedy's vital role in our cultural life

Allen says: "We need a body to give dedicated focus and nurture to this crucial part of British cultural life, which captures, defines and reflects our national character, identity and soul. Our strength and weakness, all our oddity and individuality. And we are brilliant at it. We're famous for it all over the world. From Chaplin to Python, The Office to Fleabag, our comedy travels everywhere and brings us back love and respect, friends and influence. It's one of our greatest cultural triumphs.

"So the question I find myself asking, time and again, is: if comedy is loved and adored by audiences, why isn't it afforded its dues to the same extent as other areas of culture?

"I want things to change. I think it's time for the comedy industry to feel its value and exert its influence and potential throughout society. I want us to explore what a comedy foundation might look like, who it could unearth, what it could achieve and who'd get behind it. I want it to be valued as an art form and for arts body funding to be opened up to benefit comedy."

The foundation, supported by BBC Director-General Tony Hall and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, will initially be developed by Allen over three months, from mid-April onwards.

Charlotte Moore says: "British comedy is one of our greatest cultural triumphs and something the BBC is committed to for the long term. We want to lead the way in creating opportunities for new creative voices and supporting fresh talent - whether on or off screen - wherever they are and whatever their background. We believe this project will result in real benefits for the creative industries and Tony and I are very keen to support Shane in his work."

Trade magazine Broadcast reports that the initiative is inspired by the likes of BAFTA, the National Youth Theatre and the US National Comedy Centre.

Talking to the industry publication, Allen said: "The attention received by genres like drama gives me a slight inferiority complex. There are institutions representing lots of cultural entities so we need one that celebrates British comedy."

Allen is set to outline the plans further today to suppliers, agents and industry stakeholders at a commissioning briefing, and has begun talks with Channel 4 and Sky. He will then present a two-year roadmap to BBC Director-General Tony Hall and content head Charlotte Moore.

Broadcast notes: "One of the tentpoles of Allen's BCF pitch is to position a career in comedy as attractive for hard-to-reach youngsters. He envisions delivering outreach programmes to schools, backed by industry-sponsored mentoring opportunities. Another priority is to help smaller comedy indies strike deals with global operators."

The magazine adds: "At the same time, he wants the BCF to 'wash out US cultural imperialism' by aiding with the production of more authentically British shows."

The British Comedy Foundation would also aim to publish a Comedy Charter, particularly focused around political correctness. Allen explained: "There is a Victorian moral code around the way people criticise comedy, especially on social media, and the BCF could set the agenda more clearly."

Further details about the British Comedy Foundation will be released in due course.