Comedy Central UK rejigs post-Offman promotion

Comedy Central has appointed Lucy Robinson to head its London-based programming team and promoted Louise Holmes following Jill Offman becoming international chief of the Paramount Channel.

Robinson (pictured) will take up her newly created role as VP of original programming with immediate effect, reporting to Offman, who remains executive VP for Comedy Central International and managing director of Comedy Central UK, as well as Paramount Channel chief.

At the same time, Louise Holmes has been promoted to vice president and general manager for Comedy Central UK, Northern and Eastern Europe, and will now take lead responsibility for the brand across 33 European countries.

Robinson will oversee all original programme commissions out of the UK as the brand looks to further diversify its British comedy offering, with a brief ranging across non-scripted comedy, entertainment formats, animation, local reversions of Comedy Central’s US hits.

Her primary focus will be developing new programmes for Comedy Central’s TV channel in the UK, but with an international remit she will also play a key role in adapting British shows that may have wider appeal for international audiences.

Robinson will also have a direct line into the Comedy Central US programming team, to facilitate the co-ordination of content between the domestic and international teams.

Her credits include BBC Three comedy Pramface, Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show, and BBC primetime series Hustle and The Wrong Mans. She also produced dark Channel 4 drama Born to Kill.

Holmes will now oversee the editorial strategy for the brand and look to build on the recent success in the UK, where the channel is currently experiencing its highest ever year for all-day share, up 14% year-on-year, according to Viacom-owned Comedy Central.

Viacom is putting that growth down, in part, to an ongoing increase in original UK productions, commissioned by Holmes in her previous role as VP programming, including: the comedy gameshow Your Face or Mine and Stand Up Central.

“Lucy has a strong, proven track record across all genres of comedy. Her experience with originating, executing and overseeing great shows means she is well equipped to help expand our comedy portfolio and we’re delighted to have her on board,” said Offman.

“Louise has demonstrated time and time again her knack for spotting great British talent and shows which resonate with our audience – so we look forward to seeing what they will accomplish together.”