Chris Sussman Takes Over as BBC’s New Comedy Chief!

Chris Sussman has been appointed as the new Director of Comedy at the BBC.

Previously the head of comedy at BBC Studios, Sussman will fill the role previously held by Jon Petrie. Before this new appointment, he served as the Director of Scripted Series at Netflix UK until 2022, boasting a comprehensive background in prominent UK comedy and drama productions.

In his new capacity, Sussman will oversee a significant budget and manage a portfolio of shows including Here We Go, Amandaland, Small Prophet, and the newly popular Ann Droid, which was just renewed for a second season.

Jon Petrie, his predecessor, earlier announced his departure to join Hat Trick Productions, the company behind Derry Girls and Have I Got News For You.

Sussman is set to begin his new role next month, with Emma Lawson acting as the interim Director of Comedy until then.

During his tenure at Netflix, where he also covered drama, Sussman was involved with Man Versus Bee, Baby Reindeer, Stay Close, Bodies, and Black Mirror. While leading the comedy division at BBC Studios, he oversaw both television and radio comedy line-ups, managing shows like This Country, Inside No 9, W1A, Famalam, Upstart Crow, Two Doors Down, and Mrs Brown’s Boys. He also secured BBC Studios’ first commissions with Apple TV for Trying, and with Prime Video for Good Omens.

His earlier tenure in the BBC Comedy commissioning team saw him managing shows like Fleabag, Mum, Bad Education, Cuckoo, Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Rev, and Him & Her.

Since his departure from Netflix, Sussman has served as an executive producer on the International Emmy award-winning BBC comedy Ludwig.

Reporting directly to BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips, Sussman will lead the BBC comedy commissioning team. His upcoming projects include Bill’s Included, Reluctant Vampire, Better Later, Hopley Hall, Push, and Opening Up.

“Chris’s appointment comes after a highly competitive interview process, and I am thrilled that he will be assuming the role of the BBC’s Director of Comedy,” Phillips commented. “With his extensive experience across various independent producers and broadcasters, he possesses the intelligence and capability required to lead us into a humor-filled future.”

“I have been a fan of BBC comedy since my childhood, listening to classics like Hancock and The Goons, and the opportunity to craft new classics for future generations is both a formidable and irresistible challenge,” Sussman remarked. “I am excited to join an outstanding team that’s already producing exceptional series, and I look forward to continuing Jon’s work and shaping the landscape of British comedy in the years to come.”