New Head of Comedy for Channel 4

Phil Clarke is to join the broadcaster as its new Head of Comedy.

“Channel 4 has an outstanding comedy heritage, so I’m honoured and delighted to be joining the creative commissioning team” said Phil Clarke on joining the recently 30-year-old network.

Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt announced that Clarke will be in charge of a range of programming from Black Mirror, Derek and Bad Sugar to new talent initiatives like 4Funnies and Comedy Blaps.

Currently Head of Comedy and Entertainment at Objective Productions, Phil joined as Head of Comedy, setting up the comedy department in spring 2003, after producing the first series of Peep Show in 2002. Overseeing numerous award-winning series for Channel 4 and the BBC, Phil was Executive Producer for all of Objective’s scripted comedy, including Fresh Meat, Peep Show, Star Stories and Pete Versus Life.

Previously, Phil was Editor of Comedy for Talkback Productions, overseeing as Executive Producer, much of the company’s comedy output which included Bo Selecta and Never Mind The Buzzcocks. He also produced numerous comedy shows for Talkback including Big Train and the Brass Eye Special. Prior to that Phil worked at as a producer at BBC in both radio and television.

Jay Hunt said: “Phil has been behind some of the biggest comedy hits on British TV. He is brilliantly creative and will be a strong, thoughtful leader for the Channel 4 comedy team.”

Comedy Commissioning Editor, Nerys Evans, currently Acting Head of the department will be promoted to Deputy Head of Comedy with immediate effect. Phil joins the channel in the new year.