Comedy news: SSP's TV blog: What next for BBC four comedy?

Andrew Mickel, TV Blogger, Such Small Portions

With all eyes of the BBC Strategic Review focused on the fate of 6 Music (read the Such Small Portions piece on that here), some of the other changes have gone somewhat under reported. 

Take the refocus plans for BBC Four: It will screen less comedy and entertainment in favour of more arts and music. The plan says instead there should be more comedy on to BBC Two. Considering Two's current comedy roster includes how-did-this-shocker-get-such-a-good-cast The Persuasionists and the-sort-of-thing-that-is-probably-going-to-get-moved-to-BBC-One Miranda, it's a much-needed shot in the arm.

But will the programming realistically be as daring on BBC Two as it is on a channel that doesn't have to worry about the mass audience? That seems unlikely when you think about many of BBC Four's slowburner hits. The Thick Of It is the obvious example, but there's also Charlie Brooker's expanding Screenwipe empire (indeed, his entire on-screen presence started on predecessor channel BBC Knowledge), Shooting Stars heir We Need Answers, and the dizzyingly funny three-part TV series of Cowards (all on YouTube here, helpfully) to name but a few.

A few months ago I spoke with Harry Venning, creator of the social work-based Clare in the Community cartoon strip and co-creator with David Ramsden of the Radio 4 show. He told me that the BBC have been interested in transferring the show to TV – but only if they re-wrote it in a different setting, like a school or a hospital.

Doing the show the way it was actually written is exactly the sort of thing that BBC Four could conceivably do, particularly considering they've already shown the Jo Brand care home comedy, Getting On. If they won't, will BBC Two?

Sure, BBC Four comedy hasn't all been great. Anyone who suffered through Marcus Brigstocke's painful impression of Jon Stewart on the Late Edition can testify to that. But as the last year has seen Channel 4's new comedy output seemingly fall to naught and the once-underrated BBC Three live down to its reputation, it seems that the cause of daring telly comedy has taken a major hit.