Sky comedy chief exits, interim boss installed

Lucy Lumsden, head of comedy at European satcaster Sky, is returning to production.

She is leaving Sky on September 25 after six years as its comedy chief and will be replaced in the interim by Jon Mountague. However, she will continue to exec her current slate of programmes until Christmas.

In an email to staff, Sky director of entertainment channels Stuart Murphy wrote she would “leave Sky to work on her own shows”, adding she was a “one of a kind, a real comedy genius”.

Before Sky, Lumsden was the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning, greenlighting shos such as Gavin and Stacey and The Catherine Tate Show. At Sky, she oversaw development and production of seris including Stella, Trollied and Mount Pleasant.

“I leave Sky with a heavy heart after six wonderful years as head of comedy, but I now feel it’s the right moment to start a new chapter and get closer to the creative coalface,” said Lumsden.

“I’m very grateful to have worked with so many talented, smart and funny people in my time both inside and outside Sky. I’d like to thank my boss Stuart Murphy for his encouragement, revolutionary spirit and for being a constant source of inspiration. I’m extremely proud of what we have all achieved and will miss my team enormously.”