BBC boss says comedy business wants ‘a few Berocca’ to outlive
The BBC‘s comedy boss has called on programme-makers to help ‘save’ sitcom, saying the industry must ‘fight’ for UK mainstream comedy to ‘exist’.
Jon Petrie, in a speech to the comedy industry, said while situation comedy was not ‘dead’, it ‘needs a couple of Berocca’ and a ‘black Americano with two sugars’.
Speaking at the BBC Comedy Festival in Glasgow, he said he wanted producers to ‘take the risk’ and ‘create the next generation of classic sitcoms’ with ‘immortal characters’.
The BBC director of comedy added that ‘mainstream comedy’ is ‘what audiences love best’.
The prominence of the TV sitcom is widely regarded as having faded in modern times, with television executives apparently more focused on drama shows.
Jon Petrie (pictured middle) said while situation comedy was not ‘dead’, it ‘needs a couple of Berocca’ and a ‘black Americano with two sugars’
In the past sitcoms were responsible for many of the biggest hits on TV, such as Only Fools and Horses and To the Manor Born.
Throughout the years other hit comedies include Fawlty Towers, The Office, The Royle Family and Gavin and Stacey.
Recent sitcom successes include Ghosts and This Country.
As Mr Petrie made his speech, he confirmed the return of family sitcom Outnumbered, for a Christmas special and a new series of Not Going Out, now the longest running UK situation comedy.
In the speech he said: ‘If our comedy eco-system is shrinking, then it’s on all us to fight for the right of UK mainstream comedy to exist.
‘The sitcom isn’t dead but it needs a couple of Berocca.
‘And a black americano with two sugars. We’re asking you to do something really ambitious and help save our sitcom. It’s what audiences want to see.’
He added: ‘Mainstream comedy is what audiences love best.
‘It’s written right through our comedy heritage and is so close to our hearts. It can tell our stories and bring us together like nothing else.
‘That’s why audiences and critics feel so passionately about it and have such a strong sense of ownership.’
Mr Petrie said it wanted producers to created characters that audiences will ‘keep returning to for decades to come’.
He said the BBC was still ‘not getting pitched enough of the comedy we need to keep people happy’ and pointed out he had asked two years ago for more sitcom ideas.
As Mr Petrie made his speech, he confirmed the return of family sitcom Outnumbered, for a Christmas special
The BBC Director of Comedy also confirmed a new series of Not Going Out, now the longest running UK situation comedy
Mr Petrie added that his new commissions pointed the direction the BBC wanted to travel in – ‘firmly sitcom first, with a high joke rate’.
He said: ‘Please send us less shows that are ‘an exploration’ of something and more that know where their funny bones are.
‘We want less ‘vital pieces’ and ‘comfort baths’, and more ‘toe-curlingly funny’, ‘gleeful’ and ‘laugh out loud’.’
