Channel 4 hires Objective’s Phil Clarke as head of comedy

British broadcaster Channel 4 has hired Objective Productions exec Phil Clarke as head of comedy.

Clarke has been responsible for a raft of successful British comedies including the first season of Peep Show, Fresh Meat, Bo Selecta and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

He was previously head of comedy and entertainment at Objective Productions, which is owned by All3Media. He joined in 2003 to set up its comedy department. Before that he was editor of comedy at FremantleMedia-owned Talkback Productions.

He will report to Jay Hunt, chief creative officer at Channel 4.

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.”

Clarke added: “Channel 4 has an outstanding comedy heritage, so I’m honoured and delighted to be joining the creative commissioning team.”

Separately, comedy commissioning editor Nerys Evans, who is currently acting head of the department, has been promoted to deputy head of comedy, effective immediately.