C4 legal boss quits

Tomalin is to return to private practice with her own legal consultancy, which will work directly with independent production companies.

She was instrumental in the broadcast of shows such as Brass Eye and 1991's three-week censorship season Banned, which included the TV premiere of Monty Python's Life of Brian as well as screenings of Alan Clarke's Scum and Derek Jarman's Sebastiane.

She also helped quash a multi-million dollar law suit from the American Family Association, which tried to censor the film Damned in the USA, which aired as part of the season and which later won an Emmy.

She also helped to defeat C4's first libel action, brought by South African journalist Jani Allen concerning Nick Broomfield's documentary The Leader, the Driver and the Driver's Wife and subsequent libel actions funded by the Police Federation and Medical Defence Union.

C4 director of television and content Kevin Lygo paid tribute to her time at the channel.

"Jan is rightly considered the UK's top TV lawyer, both by those who have been fortunate enough to work with her and by her peers in the legal profession,” he said.

“She has a well-deserved reputation for enabling the channel to broadcast some of its most distinctive, challenging and contentious programmes and then defending them successfully in court or before the regulator.

“Her commitment to freedom of expression is unwavering and she has been absolutely crucial in shaping the channel's output for the last 20 years. The commissioning team here will miss her talents, support and enthusiasm enormously."

Tomalin said about her move: "I have had an amazing time at Channel 4 and I am proud to have played a part in delivering its unique and important remit. After 20 years it's the perfect time for a new challenge.

"As the media landscape continues to evolve and the independent production sector flourishes, I relish the opportunity to move on and work more directly with programme makers and production companies and give them the benefit of the huge range of experience I've acquired at the channel.”

Her departure follows C4 head of programmes Julian Bellamy's pledge yesterday to uphold the broadcaster's right to risk offence with potentially controversial material, in the wake of media debate about swearing on television and the row over Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand.

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