Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Sky Studios expands Comedy team with three new hires

10/03/2021

Following a string of break-out Sky Original comedies, Sky Studios is expanding its Comedy team with three new hires across indie commissioning and in-house development.

The team, which develops, commissions, and produces original scripted comedy for Sky, this week welcomes Adnan Ahmed and Katie Churchill as in-house Producers with Alex Moody set to join this summer as Commissioning Editor for indie-led projects.

Ahmed, who joins from BBC Studios, and Churchill, who joins from Tiger Aspect, are the first hires into Sky Studios' growing in-house development and production team, led by BAFTA-winning writer and producer Anil Gupta, who joined Sky Studios as Creative Director for Comedy last October. The pair's remit includes identifying new and established writing and performing talent and working with them to develop scripted comedy projects for Sky Studios.

While at BBC Studios, Ahmed produced the UK's first British Muslim sketch show Muzlamic (BBC3), as well as The Big Asian Stand Up (BBC2), the BBC New Comedy Awards, podcasts and a number of shows for BBC Radio 4, including Rich Hall's US Breakdown, Ankle Tag, Darren Harriott: Black Label, Felicity Ward - Appisodes and Chain Reaction.

Churchill's credits from her time as a development producer at Tiger Aspect include Producing Simon Amstell: Set Free (Netflix), Lazy Susan (BBC2) and Jonny Sweet's Le Maire (BBC Radio 2). She also was the Assistant Producer of Jack Whitehall: At Large (Netflix) and the first series of Travels With My Father (Netflix).

Boosting indie-commissioning

Alongside in-house development, Sky Studios is further boosting its indie commissioning team with the appointment of Alex Moody as Commissioning Editor, reporting to Director of Comedy, Jon Mountague.

Moody joins from the BBC where her commissions included Mackenzie Crook's Worzel Gummidge, King Gary, Motherland, Mandy, There She Goes, The Other One, Cunk On Britain, The Young Offenders, and Frankie Boyle's New World Order.

Moody, who joins in the summer, will work alongside fellow Commissioning Editor Tilusha Ghelani and Mountague to further boost Sky Studios' growing slate of indie-produced Sky Original comedies, in line with Sky's commitment to more than double its investment in original content by 2024.

Sky Studios remit is to source, develop and produce scripted Sky Originals for Sky's platforms across Europe, with all projects for Sky UK jointly commissioned by Sky Studios and by Zai Bennett, Sky UK's MD of Content.

2021 will see the return of several Sky Original comedies including Intelligence, Code 404, Frayed, Brassic and Breeders, as well as the launch of new Sky Original comedy Bloods starring Samson Kayo (Famalam, Truthseekers) and Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous, Little Voice). The series will build on the huge success of Roald & Beatrix: The Tale of the Curious Mouse, which became Sky's biggest rated show of the Christmas period ever when it debuted last December and is nominated for Best Drama Series at this year's Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.

Jon Mountague, Director of Comedy, Sky Studios, said: Katie, Adnan and Alex are three of the best in the business. They all have brilliant track-records in delivering break-out comedy hits and will each bring their distinctive and diverse taste to Sky Original comedy as we expand both our indie-commissions and our in-house development slate.

2020 was a vintage year for comedy at Sky with more viewers and critical acclaim than ever before both in the UK and around the world with our original series picked up by HBO Max, Peacock, Hulu, Stan and more. This year is set to be even bigger with more returning series and more new Sky Originals. There's never been a better time to work in Comedy at Sky, not least because you don't have to sit in the office with the Drama team.

Media Contact at Sky Studios

Harrison.Kelly@sky.uk / +44(0)7817476365

Lauren.Haynes@sky.uk / +44(0)7468462767

Biographies

Adnan Ahmed

Adnan joins from BBC Studios where, as a producer, his work spanned TV, Radio and Podcasts. Credits include producing the UK's first British Muslim sketch show Muzlamic (BBC3), as well as The Big Asian Stand Up (BBC2), the BBC New Comedy Award, and the hit podcast Inside, Inside No. 9. He also developed a number of shows for BBC Radio 4, including Felicity Ward - Appisodes, Darren Harriott: Black Label and Sarah Keyworth - Are you a boy or a girl? Prior to his move into tv production, he worked in live comedy production including establishing the Leicester Comedy Festival as a platform for new talent.

Katie Churchill

Katie Churchill joins Sky Studios from Tiger Aspect, where she Produced comedies such as Simon Amstell: Set Free (Netflix) and Lazy Susan (BBC2), and Assistant Produced Jack Whitehall: At Large (Netflix) and series 1 of Travels With My Father (Netflix). Before Tiger Aspect, she worked at CAA in the London Television Department and completed the Training Programme in LA. Alongside her career in TV, Katie co-founded multi-award-winning live comedy production company Berks Nest. The company's shows have won the Edinburgh Comedy Award twice (Richard Gadd, 2016 and Rose Matafeo 2018), the Newcomer Award in 2019 (Catherine Cohen), and received numerous other nominations for Best Show (three-times with Kieran Hodgson), and Best Newcomer (Sophie Duker, Olga Koch, and Jayde Adams).

Alex Moody

Most recently Alex was Commissioning Editor at BBC Comedy where her slate included Motherland, King Gary, Worzel Gummidge, There She Goes, Mandy, The Young Offenders, People Just Do Nothing, Vic & Bob's Big Night Out and Frankie Boyle's New World Order. Before commissioning, Alex worked at BBC Comedy In-House, CPL Productions, Happy Tramp and Reeves & Mortimer's Pett Productions developing and produci
LINK: https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-studios-expands-comedy-team...
See more stories from sky

More from BskyB

10/07/2025

From Treehouses to the Deep Sea: A First Look at Sky Kids New Adventures

Thursday 10 July 2025 The Very Small Creatures Jaime's Treetop Tales Emerald BooSnoo! Christmas Mashup Pip & Posy's Spooktacular Party The Very Sm...

10/07/2025

Millions of Sky customers set to enjoy even bigger rewards as Sky VIP loyalty programme gets a major upgrade

Thursday 10 July 2025 Brand new rewards are coming to Sky customers, with free ...

09/07/2025

Sky becomes UKs fastest major broadband provider with launch of new 5 Gbps Full Fibre speed and WiFi 7 hub

Wednesday 9 July 2025 Sky Broadband now has the UK's fastest broadband spee...

04/07/2025

Official trailer revealed for new season of BAFTA-winning Sky Original comedy Mr Bigstuff, coming 24 July

Friday 4 July 2025 Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/Od5WpvWmDr8 Further...

03/07/2025

Sky Arts Unveils New Mozart Season, Celebrating the Legacy of Classicals Greatest Maestro

Thursday 3 July 2025 David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...

03/07/2025

Sky announces 2025 Sky WNT Fund Recipients

The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025 Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...

27/06/2025

RTL Group to acquire Sky Deutschland

Friday 27 June 2025 Combination of RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to create a unique proposition in entertainment, sports ...

18/06/2025

Sky Original documentary Death of a Showjumper to air on Sky and streaming service NOW on 16 July

Wednesday 18 June 2025 Today, Sky announced the brand-new Sky Original document...

18/06/2025

The Trip returns: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on The Trip to the Northern Lights

The fifth instalment of the multi-award-winning Sky Original comedy from acclaim...

18/06/2025

Sky Original documentary Death of a Showjumper to air on Sky and streaming service NOW this July

Wednesday 18 June 2025 Today, Sky announced the brand-new Sky Original document...

17/06/2025

Sky exclusive film Hill coming to Sky and streaming service NOW from 2 July

Tuesday 17 June 2025 One name. Two world champions. In 1996, Damon Hill claimed the Formula 1 World Championship and cemented his place in motorsport history, ...

16/06/2025

Sky, Channel 4 and ITV announce joint intent to launch groundbreaking premium video advertising marketplace

Monday 16 June 2025 For the first time, small to medium sized businesses will b...

16/06/2025

WWF and Sky Kids launch Wear it Wild with Ready Eddie Go!

Monday 16 June 2025 Families and children are invited to dress up, have fun and raise money to protect nature WWF UK and Sky Kids are teaming up to launch Wea...

12/06/2025

Dan Biggar, Ronan OGara, Sam Warburton and Warren Gatland star in Sky Sports line-up for The British & Irish Lions Tour

Thursday 12 June 2025 Sky Sports has revealed its on-screen line-up for the Qat...

11/06/2025

Eva Langret joins the judging panel for Landscape Artist of the Year as production begins on its 11th series

Wednesday 11 June 2025 Production begins on the 11th series of flagship Sky Art...

10/06/2025

Official trailer now available for 7/7: Homegrown Terror, airing 29 June on Sky Documentaries and NOW

Tuesday 10 June 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To...

10/06/2025

Sky Kids brings beloved book character to life with new Sky Original series My Friend Maisy

Tuesday 10 June 2025 Sky Kids has commissioned My Friend Maisy, a brand-new 2D ...

03/06/2025

Introducing Sky Glass Air, the newest addition to Skys TV range from just 6/month

On sale from 10th JuneTuesday 3 June 2025 Sky has unveiled Sky Glass Air, a sty...

03/06/2025

Sky releases official trailer for season three of the Sky Exclusive series The Gilded Age, debuting 23 June

Tuesday 3 June 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To ...

21/05/2025

VOICE-NO! Brits call time on long voice notes

Wednesday 21 May 2025 Brits call for voice notes to be capped at two minutes after research reveals the nation is suffering from VNF - Voice Note Fatigue Voice...

20/05/2025

Sky releases official teaser for Sky Exclusive drama series IT: Welcome to Derry, coming this Autumn

Tuesday 20 May 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To ...

16/05/2025

Sky releases Official Trailer and Key Art for Sky Exclusive film Mountainhead, written and directed by Jesse Armstrong

Friday 16 May 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To d...

15/05/2025

Official teaser trailer released of Sky exclusive drama Task coming to Sky and streaming service NOW this September

Thursday 15 May 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To...

14/05/2025

Sky Original film Tinsel Town reveals first look

Wednesday 14 May 2025 Image Credit @Sky UK. Photographer: Matt Squire. High-Res image available to download HERE THE FILM STARS KIEFER SUTHERLAND & REBEL WIL...

09/05/2025

Sky Original documentary The Girl Who Caught a Killer to air on Sky and streaming service NOW on 25 May

Friday 9 May 2025 Download images HERE Episodes are available on Sky Media Vil...

07/05/2025

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom to join Sky Original film slate in 2026

Wednesday 7 May 2025 Shaun the Sheep fans are in for a baaaarilliant treat in 2...

29/04/2025

Sky Sports to broadcast Barclays Womens Championship title decider between Birmingham City versus London City Lionesses

Tuesday 29 April 2025 The Women's Professional Leagues can confirm that thi...

28/04/2025

New research from Sky Sports looks at the role of Womens sport fandom in the future of sports

Monday 28 April 2025 New research from Sky Sports, released today, shows that w...

28/04/2025

Official trailer released for Sky Documentaries three-part series, Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park, airing 11 May

Monday 28 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To...

28/04/2025

Victory lap for A League of Their Own

After 20 Legendary Seasons Sky is Hanging Up The Boots of its BAFTA-winning Sports Show. Production of farewell series tees off this summerMonday 28 April 2025 ...

25/04/2025

High Kicks and High Stakes: Sky Arts announces new series, The Battle of the Irish Dancers

Friday 25 April 2025 Hot on the heels of the Irish Dancing World Championships ...

22/04/2025

Sky Releases Official Teaser for Exclusive Film Mountainhead, Written and Directed by Jesse Armstrong

Tuesday 22 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. T...

16/04/2025

Sky Exclusive series And Just Like That set to return to Sky and streaming service NOW on 30 May

Wednesday 16 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies....

16/04/2025

Official trailer released ahead of the return of highly anticipated mystery-of-the-week Sky Exclusive drama, Poker Face on 8 May

Wednesday 16 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies....

14/04/2025

Masters Sunday becomes most-watched day in Sky Sports history

Monday 14 April 2025 On an unmissable day of world-class sporting drama, Sky Sports created its own history by breaking viewership records on Sunday 13 April, ...

10/04/2025

Live from London, its Saturday Night!

Lorne Michaels to Executive Produce Saturday Night Live UK, coming to the UK for the first time in deal with SkyThursday 10 April 2025 Sky is bringing NBC'...

09/04/2025

Study unearths nations most embarrassing Phone Faux Pas

Wednesday 9 April 2025 Top 15 phone faux pas and etiquette fails revealed - with Instagram mishaps and accidental texts topping the list ALL Brits who use a ...

07/04/2025

Sky to introduce Brummies from other Mummies at The Brum Hole portal

Monday 7 April 2025 To mark the launch of Joe Lycett's United States of Birmingham, the public are invited to put themselves forward to meet a Brummie from...

04/04/2025

Mountainhead, a Sky Exclusive film written and directed by Jesse Armstrong, to land on Sky and streaming service NOW on 1 June

The film Stars Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, And Ramy You...

03/04/2025

Sky to be headline sponsor of Isle of Wight Festival 2025

Thursday 3 April 2025 Sky and Isle of Wight Festival have inked a multi-year deal which marks Sky's first ever major festival partnership Sky Arts, Sky S...

03/04/2025

Sky announces fourth year of WNT Fund with 30,000 bursary for player development

Thursday 3 April 2025 Sky Ireland has announced the fourth year of the Sky WNT bursary fund, which will increase this year from 25,000 to 30,000, reaffirming...

31/03/2025

Sport draws nearly a billion hours of viewing, while nearly half of under 35s tune into podosphere for news

Sky's latest Attention Index unveils how viewers are transforming the UK'...

31/03/2025

Dana Strong: The media landscape may have changed, but its not dampened Brits love for good telly

Monday 31 March 2025 The UK is a nation of TV lovers. TV brings us closer to ou...