Former BBC and Sky Head of Comedy Lucy Lumsden has signed a first look deal with ABC Studios as she launches her own company Yellow Door Productions.

Lumsden left Sky in September saying that she wanted to get "closer to the creative coal face" and this new venture sees her embarking on the realisation of that ambition. Based in London, Yellow Door Productions will be developing scripted ideas for the UK and US markets. 

ABC Studios is a leader in the development, production and strategic distribution of entertainment content across broadcast, cable and on demand platforms. Their series include Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nashville and The Muppets. The deal struck with Yellow Door Productions poses exciting opportunities for UK talent.

During her tenures at the BBC and Sky, Lumsden was responsible for commissioning hits Gavin and Stacey, Outnumbered, Stella, The Thick of It, Trollied, Doll and Em and Miranda. At the forefront of Sky’s major investment in content, she commissioned over 60 series that won multiple awards including an International Emmy for Chris O’Dowd’s sitcom Moone Boy.

Last year she wrote and directed her first short film Honeysuckle starring Miriam Margolyes which won the Jury Prize at last year's Montreal World Film Festival. Most recently she directed Nish Kumar and Trygve Wakenshaw’s Christmas Comedies for Sky. She also chaired last year's Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

Lumsden says "I'm looking forward to helping ABC Studios find scripted ideas that could translate for the US, while also developing a slate that will work for the UK. I can't think of a more exciting way to kick off this new chapter. "