Tanya Qureshi goes to the drama department

The BBC’s head of comedy Tanya Qureshi is moving to the corporation's drama department.

She has been in her spot four years ago and has commissioned shows including  Dreaming Whilst Black, The Outlaws, Am I Being Unreasonable?, Amandaland and Ludwig.

Before that, she was head of comedy at Various Artists Limited,  where she worked on Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You and the second series of Dead Pixels.

Her new role is as commissioning editor, overseeing a slate of shows including Sally Wainwright’s forthcoming Riot Women under director of drama Lindsay Salt. She will continue to oversee Ludwig, Amandaland and the forthcoming BBC One comedy Can You Keep a Secret? with Dawn French and Mark Heap.

Jon Petrie, director of BBC comedy said: ‘While I’ll miss Tanya’s brilliance in comedy, I’m thrilled that the BBC will continue to benefit from her creative vision. 

‘Comedy at the BBC isn’t just in rude health—it’s positively glowing, thanks in no small part to Tanya’s influence. The drama team is gaining a commissioner who brings humour, heart, and a proven track record of championing distinctive voices.’

 Qureshi added: ‘It’s been an incredible privilege to be part of BBC Comedy and work with such brilliant talent, both on and off screen, creating some of the biggest comedies in recent years. But I’m thrilled to be joining Lindsay and rest of the drama commissioning team at a time when the quality and breadth of the BBC’s output continues to set the standard for British television. 

‘Drama has always been a passion of mine, and I’m excited to help shape bold, ambitious stories that resonate with audiences across the UK.’

Published: 7 May 2025