BBC alum to run Working Title comedy

London Spy producer Working Title Television UK has appointed a former BBC drama executive to head its comedy output.

Mark Freeland

Mark Freeland becomes head of television comedy and will be based in London, working alongside Andrew Woodhead, MD of Working Title Television, who took up his role last year.

Freeland was controller of fiction and entertainment at fledgling commercial arm BBC Studios but left last year after chief Peter Salmon was replaced by Mark Linsey, whose plans didn’t give him “the creative platform” he wanted.

Prior to that he was a producer at Hartswood Films and head of original programmes at Sky. He also had a stint as controller of comedy production at the BBC working on shows such as W1A, Inside No 9, Absolutely Fabulous and The Thick of It.

Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, co-chairmen of Working Title, said: “Working Title has a long history of producing great comedy with some of the best talent in the business and we look forward to working with Mark to build on that legacy.”

Woodhead added: “Comedy has been such a big part of Working Title’s success, so to be joined by someone of Mark’s calibre and experience is hugely exciting.”

Working Title TV, which is behind shows such as Sky comedy Yonderland, is a joint venture within NBCUniversal International Studios.