Digital Development Producer, Comedy

BBC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35-hour working week

26 days annual leave + 5

Defined pension

Remote GP access

Job summary

BBC Studios requires a Digital Development Producer, Comedy to identify, shape and pitch bold, scripted comedy ideas for digital audiences. You will work across IP and talent, taking projects from initial concept through development to pitch, with strong writer/creator relationships and a keen sense of the digital landscape.

You will also oversee short-form content, adapt concepts across formats, and collaborate with production teams to ensure editorial and platform requirements are met while

Qualifications

• Proven experience developing scripted comedy for digital audiences.
• Strong editorial and script-editing capabilities.
• Deep understanding of how comedy performs across social platforms.

Responsibilities

• Originate and shape bold digital-first comedy ideas for IP and talent.
• Lead development from concept to pitch or commission with tailored materials.
• Build relationships with writers, performers and digital talent.
• Collaborate with editorial, production and creative teams to realise concepts.
• Turn ideas into deliverable propositions meeting editorial, legal and platform requirements.
• Drive distribution strategies to maximise reach and audience engagement.

Skills

Scripted comedy development

Digital landscape knowledge

Editorial/script editing

Writers/creators relationship building

Social media strategy and analytics

Production management of digital video

Job description

JOB DETAILS

JOB TITLE: Digital Development Producer, Comedy

JOB BAND: D

CONTRACT TYPE: 12 months Fixed Term Contract

DEPARTMENT: Scripted Digital

LOCATION: London Television Centre

Salary dependent on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

WE ARE BBC STUDIOS

A globally renowned media company born of the BBC. We make and distribute some of the world’s most sought-after TV, audio and digital content.

Our ambition is to be the home of the most powerful, entertaining and inspiring stories for people all around the world.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Following the launch of BBC Studios’ Scripted Digital label, we’re looking for an experienced Digital Development Producer, Comedy to find, shape, develop and pitch bold, scripted comedy ideas for digital audiences. You’ll work across original IP, new formats and opportunities around existing BBC Studios content and talent, taking projects from initial idea through development to pitch.

You’ll bring excellent comedy and editorial judgement, strong relationships with writers, performers and creators, a deep understanding of the digital landscape and established digital commissioner relationships. You’ll identify digital-native comedy creators, spotting emerging talent, developing repeatable social-first formats opportunities, shaping ideas specifically for digital platforms and audiences.

Alongside this core development remit, you’ll be comfortable developing, testing and managing projects through production as required, testing short-form comedy concepts and exploring how ideas can work across different digital formats and platforms.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

BBC Studios has a rich history of creating distinctive comedy and working with some of the UK’s most exciting writers, performers and creative talent. As audiences increasingly discover and share comedy across multiple platforms, there are new opportunities to find fresh voices, develop original formats and create comedy specifically for digital audiences.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to help shape the next generation of scripted comedy. You’ll develop original ideas and opportunities around existing IP and talent, identify emerging writers and creators, and explore short-form, social-first, vertical and platform-native storytelling, helping BBC Studios find new ways to make audiences laugh.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Originate and develop bold digital-first comedy ideas, spanning new scripted IP, formats and opportunities around existing BBC Studios content and talent, including spin-offs and short-form concepts.
• Take projects from initial concept through development towards pitch or commission, creating compelling treatments, pitches and development materials tailored to different platforms and commissioners.
• Identify and build relationships with established and emerging comedy writers, performers, creators and digital talent, championing distinctive and inclusive voices that reflect the breadth of our audiences.
• Build strong relationships with digital commissioners, buyers and platforms, understanding their audiences and creative priorities and identifying new opportunities.
• Spot emerging comedy formats, audience behaviours and creative trends across short-form, vertical, social-first and platform-native content, developing and testing ideas for digital audiences. Use audience insight, platform analytics and performance data to shape creative decisions, refine content strategies and optimise performance across platforms.
• Collaborate with editorial, production and creative teams to turn strong ideas into deliverable propositions, ensuring projects meet relevant editorial, legal, copyright and compliance requirements. Identify opportunities to extend the reach and commercial value of scripted IP through digital distribution, platform partnerships, monetisation and new formats.
• Contribute to the management and growth of BBC Studios’ scripted social channels by creating and delivering digital content strategies that build audiences, strengthen engagement and maximise the impact of scripted IP.
• Produce and oversee short-form digital content, pilots and proof-of-concept projects, working with creative and production teams from initial development through to delivery.
• Work closely with BBC Studios' production teams and digital stakeholders to identify opportunities around existing and upcoming productions, ensuring digital activity supports wider brand and business objectives.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Proven experience of scripted comedy development, originating and shaping stories, characters, formats and ideas from initial concept through development to pitch, greenlight or commission.
• Expert knowledge of the digital landscape and how scripted comedy storytelling and audience behaviour differ across broadcast, short-form, social-first, vertical and platform-native content, including platforms, commissioners and emerging trends.
• Experience of developing and producing scripted comedy content for digital audiences, including pilots, short-form, social-first, vertical and/or platform-native content, with experience working with writers, cast and production teams to deliver creative ambitions within production, budget and schedule requirements.
• Strong writing and script-editing skills, with a track record of generating and developing comedy ideas and a good understanding of the comedy production lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge and established relationships across the digital comedy space, including commissioners, writers, creators and emerging talent, with an awareness of market and audience trends and new creative opportunities
• Proven experience of managing and growing social media channels, including content strategy, publishing, audience engagement and performance analysis across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
• Strong understanding of social platform analytics and audience insights, with experience using data to inform content development, optimise performance and drive audience growth.
• Experience of producing and delivering digital-first content, from initial idea through to publication, working within budgets, schedules and platform requirements.

NON-ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

While not essential, we are particularly interested in those with experience in one or more of the following:

• Digital extensions or spin-offs from established comedy IP
• Original YouTube or platform-native comedy
• Short-form scripted comedy or sketches
• Vertical or mobile-first comedy
• Social-first comedy storytelling
• Creator-led scripted comedy commissioned specifically for digital audiences

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Life at BBC Studios

• A flexible 35-hour working week with 26 days annualleave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy anextra five days.
• Defined pension (up to 10% employer contributions).
• Caring and parenting support, 24/7 remote GP access,life assurance and accident benefit.
• BBC Studios is a world leader in operating sustainably both on and off screen. Find out more about BBC Group’s science-based Net Zero targets here .
• Career development in a values-led purpose-driven culture.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

Use of AI: Guidance for Candidates

At the BBC, we know that tools like AI can help you prepare, organise your thoughts and feel more confident when applying for a role. But what we're really interested in is you.

We want to hear about your experiences, your skills and what motivates you. The strongest applications are the ones that reflect your own thinking, achievements and perspective. So whilst you're welcome to use AI for support, we encourage you to make sure your