Mark Bignell joins Irish pubcaster having produced shows including Mrs Brown’s Boys
Ireland’s RTÉ has continued its appointment run, this time naming its first dedicated commissioning editor for comedy since 2018.
Producer Mark Bignell takes up the role with a remit to drive the development and delivery of the public broadcaster’s comedy slate, working with partners in the Irish creative sector to shape “an ambitious and distinctive range of comedy formats,” the public broadcaster said.
His remit also includes developing new talent alongside working with established writers and performers. He takes up the role previously held by Eddie Doyle, who left the Irish public broadcaster for BBC Northern Ireland seven years ago.
Bignell has more than a decade of experience across scripted comedy and comedy entertainment, having developed and produced shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and RTÉ itself.
Credits include Mrs Brown’s Boys (BBC / RTÉ), Queen of the New Year (BBC Scotland), the RTS-winning How We Forgot to Save the Planet (Channel 4), and How Not to Win The Eurovision (BBC Scotland). He is currently producing the new Two Doors Down Christmas special (BBC Studios).
Bignell said: “With so much brilliant talent around, I can’t wait to get to work developing a slate that feels not just bold, diverse, and reflective of modern Ireland…but unashamedly funny.”
Steve Carson, director of video, added that Bignell offered “an impressive track record of developing new creative talent as well as delivering major shows, and our audiences can look forward to him building on a strong RTÉ comedy slate.”
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RTÉ has been in hiring mode of late, having named Teresa Smith as commissioning editor for factual entertainment last week, and confirming David Crean as its first permanent head of drama in four years in June.
Bignell’s appointment to the role, which was open to the public, comes as part of RTÉ’s New Direction Strategy, which was unveiled last summer and is intended to diversify production and support the development of the creative sector across Ireland.
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