‘Early decision’ on BBC Three TV

Choosing whether or not BBC Three should return as a linear TV channel is one of the “early decisions” facing the corporation’ s incoming director-general, the controller of the channel has said.

BBC Three moved online in 2016 but it has previously been reported the channel may return to its original TV format.

The channel has played host to a string of hit shows, including Normal People, Fleabag and Killing Eve.

Fiona Campbell, the controller of the channel, yesterday told the Edinburgh TV Festival :“Obviously there’s a new director-general about to start and, as the annual plan said, that is something the corporation has got under active consideration. He’s obviously going to have that on his list of early decisions.”

She added: “I would say anything that gives a boost to BBC Three content, which is trying to reflect lives across the UK, is obviously a good thing.

“The corporation has got quite significant savings to make across the piece so there’ s a bigger picture in which it has to be weighed within.”

Successful BBC Three content also performs well on the broadcaster’s television channels, she said. “When you see something doing well, you have got to think, ‘How can we make it do even better?’” Ms

Campbell said. Tim Davie is set to take over from Tony Hall as director-general next month.

Ms Campbell also defended a comedy sketch by Famalam, which was criticised by some for invoking stereo types of Jamaican people.

A clip posted on social media showed cast members of the BBC Three show taking part in a Jamaican version of the quiz show Countdown.

Ms Campbell said the sketch was not “malicious”, adding: “We standby the creator’ s brand of humour.”

She told the festival: “Famalam is now in its third series and it is very successful. It is not malicious humour.”

BBC Three has also announced it has comm issioned a programme featuring reality star Joey Essex.