Richard Morris to run BBC Studios Audio Comedy
- The new Creative Director of Audio Comedy at BBC Studios will be Richard Morris
- He will oversee the team that makes shows including The News Quiz, The Now Show and Dead Ringers
- He says: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead such an incredible team"
BBC Studios Comedy Productions has appointed Richard Morris as its new Creative Director of Audio Comedy.
Reporting to Head of Comedy Josh Cole, Morris will oversee all programming at BBC Studios Audio, which is the largest supplier of comedy programming to Radio 4 and whose titles include the flagship topical shows The Now Show, The News Quiz and Dead Ringers. The team also supplies comedy and entertainment programming for BBC Sounds and platforms in the commercial sector.
Richard Morris will also oversee the Comedy Contract Writers scheme which offers up-and-coming writers a year-long contract to write across a variety of audio comedy shows.
He takes over the role from Julia McKenzie who was appointed Radio 4 Commissioning Editor for Comedy and Entertainment in late April.
Morris began his comedy career as a stand-up, writer and actor and was involved in formats such as The 11 O'Clock Show and Extras. He later turned to producing in his native Cardiff, starting out making programmes like topical Radio Wales comedy The Leak, and developing comedy and factual entertainment television for S4C.
He joined BBC Studios Comedy in 2015 where he has produced and executive produced numerous programmes for Radio 4 including stand-up vehicles, factual entertainment shows and several series of The News Quiz and Just A Minute. He is currently a Senior Producer working across the whole BBC Studios Audio slate on radio and podcasts including, most recently, the Inside No. 9 companion podcast.
He says: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead such an incredible team. BBC Studios Audio is not only the home of so many prestigious and much-loved comedy titles but we also have an exciting slate of new shows in development with the best new comedians in the land and I can't wait for people to hear them."
Announcing the appointment, Josh Cole commented: "Richard is a first rate comedy producer with an excellent track record and fantastic experience of producing some of the country's most recognisable and best-loved audio comedy. He was a natural choice for this role and I can't wait to hear the brilliant work the team produce under his leadership."
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