BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips has appointed Chris Sussman as Director of Comedy. Sussman joins from Netflix UK, where he served as Director of Scripted Series. His portfolio at the streaming platform included Baby Reindeer, Black Mirror, Bodies, Stay Close, and Man Versus Bee.
Previously, Sussman held the role of Head of Comedy at BBC Studios. In that capacity, he managed TV and radio slates including Mrs Brown's Boys, Inside No 9, This Country, W1A, Famalam, Upstart Crow, Ladhood, Two Doors Down, and Vic & Bob's Big Night Out. He secured the first BBC Studios commissions with Amazon for Good Omens and Apple for Trying.
During a prior tenure within the BBC comedy commissioning team, Sussman was responsible for Fleabag, Mum, Bad Education, Cuckoo, Rev, Ambassadors, Him & Her, and Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe. He has recently served as executive producer on the comedy Ludwig.
Reporting to Phillips, Sussman will lead the commissioning team and oversee current titles including Amandaland, Small Prophets, Ann Droid, Here We Go, Black Ops, and Ludwig. His upcoming slate includes Bill's Included, Reluctant Vampire, Better Later, Hopley Hall, Push, and Opening Up. Sussman begins the role next month. Emma Lawson