‘Take a gamble on comedy’

COMEDY on the BBC must be edgier and take more risks, the watchdog has ordered.

Despite being the driving force behind shows such as Monty Python in the past, the Corporation is now ‘too traditional’, viewers told Ofcom.

From now on, the broadcaster will have to guarantee there are at least 300 hours of comedy on BBC One and BBC Two every year. This quota includes repeats. However Ofcom was clear that the BBC must also take a gamble on edgy new series.

The watchdog said: ‘Research identified BBC comedy as too traditional and risk-averse.’

It added that viewers ‘felt that the BBC was no longer an innovator when it comes to comedy, and had been superseded by providers such as Channel 4’.