A BBC report reveals British comedy generates substantial cultural and economic returns but requires strategic investment to maintain the UK's global comedy leadership position. The report examines the value of UK comedy to audiences, society and the creative industries, as well as the critical role of the BBC as an investor and champion of comedy.
It warns of headwinds that are threatening the genre, with PSB commissioning budgets under pressure, high inflation and challenges securing third party funding and distribution.
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy says: "Together, the Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) remain the only genuine champion of comedy talent development - from grassroots initiatives to writers' rooms and pilots. Nearly every British comedy star lighting up screens globally today took their first steps with the BBC or one of the other PSBs.
“Yet this ecosystem faces unprecedented challenges. Funding pressures and shifting consumption patterns threaten the very foundations of British comedy. This report makes clear: without decisive action from broadcasters, policymakers, and industry partners, the future of this uniquely British cultural and economic asset hangs in the balance.”
The report states: ‘There are headwinds that are threatening this culturally and economically significant genre, with public service broadcaster commissioning budgets under pressure, persistent high inflation due to demand for talent and infrastructure, and challenges in securing third-party financing and distribution. Urgent action is needed from both industry and the Government to protect this jewel in the UK’s cultural crown.
’The reportlists five actions to help support the sector into the future:
- Government support for sustainable and futureproof public-service broadcasting, recognising the jeopardy the ecosystem faces
- Supporting the financing of scripted comedy at all levels, including updating the tax credits system
- Partnership between organisations including PSBs, streamers, screen agencies and distributors, to increase the volume of comedy produced in the UK
- Investment in comedy-specific skills and opportunities
- Exploring innovation in new forms of comedy content
The report finds that the UK TV comedy sector supports around 2,050 jobs, with PSB spend on comedy content responsible for 45% of this. Those jobs across the UK's creative industries, from writers and performers to technical crews and production staff, develop transferable skills that strengthen the wider entertainment industry. British comedy consistently delivers programming that unites audiences across generations and regions, with eight of the 10 most-watched scripted comedy shows in the UK in 2024 appearing on the BBC.*
The importance of BBC comedy investment to the sector is also highlighted. The BBC is the largest commissioner of UK first-run comedy, and this investment is critical for sustaining the UK comedy sector. Last year the BBC made over twice as many first-run UK originated comedy hours than every other broadcast or streamer combined. The BBC invested nearly £67.1m in TV comedy in 2024, more than double the spend from each of the other broadcasters and streamers.
It states that comedy productions, ‘often provide a training ground for nurturing new skills and talent. Some of the UK’s most recognised talents started out in comedy, many of whom are now working internationally – such as Jesse Armstrong, Armando Iannucci, Michaela Coel, Daisy May Cooper, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Charlie Brooker, Richard Curtis, Steve Coogan.’
It adds: ‘The BBC is widely recognised for backing emerging talent and taking risk to work with people early in their careers, which underpins the UK’s comedy talentpipeline.’
Building on the proven success of tax relief, targeted tax credits for scripted comedy would support productions across the whole comedy ecosystem, not just the top end.
The report states: ‘However, not all of the comedy market is currently eligible for the currenttax relief, with a long tail of shows with smaller budgets that are enjoyed by audiences and are a critical part of the comedy pipeline.’It adds:‘we therefore believe that the Government should consider a targeted change to the audio-visual tax reliefs, by introducing tax relief for all scripted comedy, not just those productions that meet the HETV tax relief expenditure threshold.’
It recommends: ‘more broadly, the Government should also consider how a well-designed tax credits system might meet objectives such as incentivising co-production, protection for IP, or PSB windows, to ensure a future for UK comedy within a thriving mixed media ecology’.
Homegrown comedy formats and talent continue to achieve global success, with recent BBC-developed shows and performers securing international acclaim and adaptation deals in major markets including the US, Europe and Asia.
In interviews with some of thebiggest names in UK comedy, the valuable role the BBC plays in keeping the industry afloat was discussed.
Sharon Horgan says: "The BBC gave me my first break really because I entered the BBC New Comedy Awards in 2001 [and won]. That was the first time I had something on the telly because then we got to film the sketches and then it was broadcast. So for a first timer that was really exciting. I think that nurturing thing is very specific to the BBC. ... It's been 20 odd years now and I'm still working with the BBC because of that."
James Corden says: "The ability to take risks sets the BBC apart –whether on Human Remains, Marion and Geoff, Alan Partridge, Have I Got News For You –[they're all] extraordinary examples of the BBC being able to take risks that others couldn't."
Nerys Evans, Creative Director, Scripted, Expectation, says: "The BBC is rare in this climate to be backing newer writers... The BBC back very, very young writers or people very early in their career."
Guz Khan says: "British humour is probably one of our largest exports culturally around the world.”
Dhanny Joshi, Managing Director, Big Deal Films says: “The BBC’s investment [is] crucial for the sustainability of British comedy.”
Read the report into the Socioeconomic Impact of BBC Comedy Here.
*In the 24/25 financial year, the BBC had 8 of the top 10 scripted comedies across the period (by highest episode), the top 10 list was as follows:
- Gavin & Stacey (BBC) –20.9M
- Ludwig (BBC) –9.5M
- Outnumbered (BBC) –8.0M
- Amandaland (BBC) –6.5M
- Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC) –5.6M
- The Cleaner (BBC)–3.5M
- Only Child (BBC) -3.1M
- The Outlaws (BBC) –3.1M
- A Man on the Inside (Netflix) –2.6M
- Piglets (ITV) –2.5M
