Chris Sussman Appointed BBC Director of Comedy to Lead United Kingdom’s Largest Scripted Comedy Slate

BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips has appointed Chris Sussman as the new Director of Comedy. Sussman, who previously served as the Director of Scripted Series at Netflix UK and Head of Comedy at BBC Studios, will take over the role next month. He will succeed interim leader Emma Lawson, who continues as Acting Director in the meantime.

RMN News Leadership Desk
New Delhi | August 29, 2026

Strategic Leadership for British Comedy

In his new capacity, Sussman will report directly to Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips and lead the BBC comedy commissioning team. He assumes responsibility for leading the United Kingdom’s largest generator of original British scripted comedy. His portfolio will include overseeing a robust slate of hit comedies, such as Ludwig, Amandaland, Small Prophets, Ann Droid, Here We Go, and Black Ops. He will also manage several upcoming series, including Bill’s Included, Reluctant Vampire, Better Later, Hopley Hall, Push, and Opening Up.

Phillips praised the appointment following a competitive search, stating that Sussman possesses the smarts and skills needed to lead the broadcaster into a “very funny future”.

A Proven Track Record in Scripted Content

Sussman brings a wealth of high-profile industry experience from both public service broadcasting and commercial streaming. During his tenure as Director of Scripted Series at Netflix UK, he contributed to building the platform’s British scripted portfolio, working across popular titles like Baby Reindeer, Black Mirror, Stay Close, Bodies, and Man Versus Bee.

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His prior leadership as Head of Comedy at BBC Studios saw him manage both television and radio comedy slates. He oversaw notable productions including This Country, Inside No 9, W1A, Famalam, Upstart Crow, Ladhood, Two Doors Down, Vic and Bob’s Big Night Out, and Mrs Brown’s Boys. Furthermore, Sussman successfully secured BBC Studios’ first commissions with major international streaming services, including Amazon for Good Omens and Apple for Trying.

His previous work with the internal BBC Comedy Commissioning team also yielded significant hits, where he was responsible for acclaimed series such as Fleabag, Mum, Bad Education, Cuckoo, Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Rev, Ambassadors, and Him and Her. Most recently, he served as an executive producer on the BBC’s International Emmy award-winning comedy series Ludwig.

Looking to the Future

Reflecting on his appointment, Sussman expressed excitement about returning to the broadcaster, calling the position a “dream job”. He highlighted his lifelong passion for BBC comedy, which began in his childhood listening to recordings of classics like Hancock and The Goons.

While acknowledging the scale of the responsibility to create new classics for future generations, Sussman expressed confidence in the commissioning team he is joining. He stated his eagerness to build upon the work of his predecessor, Jon, and to continue defining the landscape of British comedy in the years ahead.