‘I May Destroy You’ prodco Various Artists hires C4 commissioner as head of comedy

I May Destroy You

Various Artists Limited (VAL), the UK production company behind BBC & HBO drama I May Destroy You, has hired Channel 4 commissioning editor Jack Bayles as its new head of comedy.

Reporting to MD Phil Clarke, himself an ex-Channel 4 commissioner, Bayles will join the firm in August and will be based in London and Brighton. He will be responsible for overseeing the company’s comedy slate as well as developing new projects.

At Channel 4, Bayles produced comedy series Catastrophe with Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, and in 2017 was appointed commissioning editor for the channel. He’s since been responsible for projects including all three series of Stath Lets Flats, two series of Derry Girls and two series of This Way Up.

London-based VAL, which is also behind the series Sally4Ever and Dead Pixels, was founded in 2017 by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, together with producers and ex Channel 4 Commissioners, Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni.

“The team at VAL have a wonderful philosophy and have excelled with their productions so far,” said Bayles, who Clarke praised as “ a fantastic addition to the creative team.”