Comedy's creator leaves the show to join Channel 4

Scot Squad creator Joe Hullait is leaving the show to join Channel 4 as a  commissioning  executive.

The writer said he was ‘sad to be leaving the job of a lifetime’ but was proud of the success of the comedy, which revolves around a fictional Scottish police force led by Chief Constable Cameron Miekelson, as played by Jack Docherty.

Writing on Twitter he said: ‘What happens with the series now is a matter for other people to decide… the series is greater than the sum of its parts. With or without me, it will keep making people laugh. (Give them another series you shits!).

First airing on the BBC in Scotland in 2014, the sixth series of Scot Squad ends next week.

But Hullait, above, conceded that leaving under a pandemic was bitter-sweet.

‘After ten years of making the show with a team than now feels like family it’s a huge shame that my final time working in person with them was on a miserable day last March when we had to stop filming due to Covid,’ he said,

‘I’m so proud of the work of everyone involved to complete that series months later. It’s been getting great figures and it makes me very happy to see that after so many years audiences are still lapping up the chance for a bit of light relief from the heavy chaos of the 2020s.’

Hullait  began his broadcasting career on  Channel 4’s trainee production scheme, and said: ‘I am beyond ecstatic to be joining a broadcaster with such a distinctive comedy legacy. So many moments from incredible Channel 4 sitcoms past and present are ingrained in my psyche. ‘

He will be reporting to the broadcaster’s head of comedy, Fiona McDermott,  who said: ‘Joe is the perfect fit for C4 comedy at this time, he impressed with his genuine tenacity and passion for making great comedy.  

‘With the comedy slate in great health and the channel’s new strategy in full swing, his strong development background as well as experience in short-form content mean he will be a brilliant addition to the team. We cannot wait to welcome him to the virtual office soon".’

Hullait’s other credits include Commonwealth Games-themed comedy series Don’t Drop The Baton, Neil Forsyth’s Bob Servant Independent, Dave’s Emmy-winning show Hoff The Record and the Hings series of shorts.

Published: 1 Feb 2021