| MUMBAI:
Bafta award winner Jane Berthoud has been appointed as head Radio Comedy at the
BBC. She will be the first woman to hold this post. Berthoud
replaces Paul Schlesinger, who moved to BBC's TV comedy department in January.
She will report to BBC head of comedy Mark Freeland from 4 May, relieving current
acting head Gareth Edwards. Edwards will be returning to his role as producer
in BBC production television and radio.
On
the new appointment, Mark Freeland says, "Jane has a passion for radio comedy
and her natural drive and comedy radar means that she's ideally placed to take
radio comedy forward into the digital age and new creative spaces." Talking
about her new role Berthoud says, "With audiences in excess of five million
per week, radio comedy remains a jewel in the crown of British culture and it's
a privilege to be taking the helm." Berthoud
has worked in BBC Comedy for 14 years, six of which have been spent exclusively
in radio. Her credits include Audio Diaries for BBC Radio 4 and Alan's Big One
with Alan Davies for BBC Radio 1. Also
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