Lygo jumps ship from Five

The TV executive who brought Ali G and Dom Joly to our screens is to return to Channel 4.

Kevin Lygo will become the station's new director of television, following two years in which he relaunched Channel Five.

As head of entertainment at Channel 4, Lygo's hits included Spaced, Smack the Pony, Trigger Happy TV, Black Books - and the controversial Brass Eye special on paedophilia.

He said: "We've built a great team at Five and I've hugely enjoyed my time there, but I couldn't pass up the chance to return to Channel 4.

"The combination of a bigger programme budget and the channel's remit to cause trouble and to innovate represents a unique opportunity for a channel controller."

At Channel 4 he will oversee a £439m budget - more than three times Five's £157m.

Channel 4's chief executive Mark Thompson said: "Kevin has a great track record of attracting the best creative talent and of commissioning the type of original and provocative programming that is Channel 4's hallmark"

Mr Lygo began his career writing for comedies including Not the Nine O'Clock News and The Two Ronnies before becoming moving into BBC management.

While there, he launched They Think It's All Over and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Published: 10 Jul 2003