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Roughcut TV names comedy chief

UK indie Roughcut TV has promoted Alex Smith to head of comedy.

Smith has produced some of Roughcut’s longest-running sitcoms, Trollied, which plays on Sky 1 in the UK, and has worked on the firm’s newest comedy, Carters Get Rich.

As comedy chief at Ash Atalla’s prodco, he will be responsible for overseeing an expanding slate of comedy shows, and managing development of projects in the UK and US. Significantly, he will look after the firm’s first-look deal with HBO.

Smith has worked in British scripted television for more than 15 years, developing and producing comedies and drama. Initially a script editor, he went on to work for All3Media-owned Bentley Productions, which is behind the big-selling Midsomer Murders.

“Alex has one of the smartest script minds I’ve worked with so there was no question that he would become Roughcut’s new head of comedy,” said Atalla. “He will lead our development and production teams as we continue to grow our UK and international business. My only issue is that he’s often better dressed than me, and in truth I find that disrespectful.”

The Office co-creator Atalla created Roughcut along with Tim Sealey in 2007. It is behind BBC Three comedy Cuckoo and recent hit People Just Do Nothing, plus Comedy Central sitcom I Live with Models. It recently produced a pilot for HBO with comedian Sarah Silverman and a remake of Cuckoo for NBC.