Must not have all-male comedy shows in Britain

All-male comedy panel shows will be consigned to the history books, after BBC bosses told producers that female guests must now be involved with the programmes.

Danny Cohen, BBC director of television, this week promised a better gender mix on such shows as Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, which typically comprise all-male panels.

The move is part of a drive by the BBC Trust to address gender imbalance on our television screens.

BBC entertainment controller Mark Linsey said: 'Comedy panel shows are always better for having a good mix of people and of course that must include women.

'I’m making it clear to production teams that there’s just no excuse for delivering all male guest lists.'

Meanwhile, Lee Mack, who is a team captain on BBC1’s Would I Lie To You?, said men are better suited to being stand-up comedians as they are more competitive - and therefore dominate TV panel shows as a result.

Speaking on Desert Island Discs last September, Mack said: ‘When men sit around and talk, they are very competitive. One person will tell an anecdote and the next person will try to top that. When you get six women together, they share a lot more.

'They will be far more interested in what the other person has to say. The conservation is more interactive and less about individually showing off.’

The 45-year-old, who wrote and starred in the BBC1 sitcom Not Going Out, added: ‘The problem isn’t that there’s not enough women in panel games.  'The problem is there’s not enough women in comedy in general.’

Source