Watchdog slates ITV output

Television watchdogs have slammed the state of comedy on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

The Independent Television Commission says broadcasters are too willing to rely on old favourites and familiar faces to fill their schedules.

However, Channel 4's Comedy Lab was singled out for praise for developing new talent.

In its annual report, the ITC said: "ITV relies significantly on a bedrock of established formats and stars, and bases its claim to a fruitful year for comedy on its comedy-drama output " such as Cold Feet.

The regulators added: "The comedy store remains particularly hard to fill with only four new home-grown comedy series this year."

The four were: High Stakes with Richard Wilson, the Davina McCall vehicle Sam's Game (pictured), The Armando Iannucci Show and animated satire ITC, which the report called "promising and popular".

Some shows, including Banzai and, bafflingly, The Sketch Show, are classed as Light Entertainment by the ITC.

Two other one-off specials were made across the three channels - the controversial Brass Eye Special, and the pilot Alter Ego.

The watchdogs added: "Almost all of these appeared after 10pm. While both ITV and Channel 4 maintain that they aim to cater for a wide range of age groups and tastes, the practice indicates otherwise as far as comedy is concerned.

"And the late slots do not even guarantee a good share ­ Armando Iannuci attracts less than seven per cent even at 10.30pm.

"Comedy is a tough nut to crack, although it is encouraging to see the Channel 4 Comedy Lab is still trying, but neither effort nor results have been impressive in 2001."

The regulators also bemoaned the lack of ethnic diversity in the independent sector's entertainement output in 2001.

They said: "The absence of any comedy or light entertainment shows led by, or significantly involving, ethnic minority personalities is glaring across all three networks."

The report comes as British comedy shows dominated nominations for an international TV award. Smack The Pony and The Sketch Show, both shown on the commercial channels, are among the programmes in the running for the Banff awards.

Published: 16 Apr 2002