Mark Freeland, Controller of Fiction and Entertainment, BBC Television and Director of Scripted, BBC Studios, is to leave the BBC.

Freeland has a long history of working in comedy and in recent years has been involved in a wide range of BBC comedy shows from House of Fools and Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle to Citizen Khan and Mrs Brown's Boys.

In an email he has explained that he is announcing his departure as BBC Studios launches: "Tomorrow BBC Studios is set to launch. As it reaches for the stars, I am writing to tell you that I will not be going on that journey with you. In the last few weeks, since Director of BBC Studios, Mark Linsey started in his role, we have been discussing together the way he is taking Studios forward. As one would expect, he is making strategic changes in various areas. I have decided that some of the proposed changes he is making will not give me the creative platform I need to be at my very best. The highest standards of creativity & value amount to a position of personal integrity to me."

Freeland went on to explain that he wanted to be close to production & talent and did not think that this would be possible within the new restructuring. He is not leaving immediately but wanted the people he works with to know his plans.

"I'm sure you'll understand if I especially thank my friends in Comedy, who became my second family - often better behaved than my real one. I will be announcing my next move soon. But part of that, will be watching Studios from the outside as it develops itself into its own entity. Good luck, an enormous thank you & I'll see you all soon, Mark."