Iannucci joins Baby Cow

Baby Cow Productions has appointed Armando Iannucci as its first Creative Director.

Iannucci joins Baby Cow with immediate effect, working alongside joint Managing Directors Henry Normal and Steve Coogan.

In his new role, Iannucci will oversee a slate that includes Gavin & Stacey, Nighty Night, The Shadow Line, The Trip and The Mighty Boosh.

He is also charged with attracting and nurturing new talent.

The appointment sees Iannucci re-united with Coogan, who he has previously worked with on BBC Two’s I’m Alan Partridge and Knowing Me, Knowing You.

Partridge’s character was born out of Iannucci’s early work with Chris Morris on Radio 4 series On the Hour which was transferred to TV as The Day Today (BBC Two).

Other credits include political sitcom The Thick of It (BBC Two) In the Loop, the film based on The Thick of It, for which he was nominated for an Oscar; and The Armando Iannucci Shows for Channel 4.

Iannucci is currently working on a political satire for HBO in the US called Veep.

Normal said: “We are delighted to be working with Armando Iannucci. He has one of the most respected misspelt names in comedy.”

Coogan said: “Despite his inherent Scottishness, over the last twenty years I have been inspired by and collaborated with Armando Iannucci. His joining Baby Cow builds on that. Armando has uncynically always created work he believes in. That’s what Baby Cow is about.”

Iannucci said: “Baby Cow going forward has always championed good comedy, especially good comedy writing going forward. I want to make it the place the next generation of comedy writers and performers head to first; a place where they know they’ll be encouraged and stimulated going forward.”