Rumpus Media has appointed Avril Spary as Head of Comedy Entertainment and has promoted Chantal Barnes to Head of Development.
Spary takes up the role after spending nine years at Tiger Aspect where she started as a trainee and worked her way up to Development Executive. She produced and co-created BAFTA Award-winning, Murder in Successville (BBC Three). As Head of Comedy Entertainment Spary will be responsible for developing and pitching comedy entertainment ideas to UK broadcasters as well as working closely with emerging comedians and writers, developing off and on-screen talent.
Rumpus Media’s Joint Managing Director, Emily Hudd, said: “Avril has a rare ability to develop really distinctive, high concept shows that are big on both entertainment and humour. She has a keen eye for talent and really goes the extra mile to nurture them. We’re really excited to see how she grows the next generation of Rumpus Comedy Entertainment.”
Avril Spary said: “Tiger Aspect is a fantastic company, and I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed working there across the years. My departure only demonstrates how exciting and brilliant Emily and Iain’s vision for Rumpus Media is.
“Aside from creating and producing fresh and innovative ideas with my new colleagues, I’m looking forward to attempting to explain to my mother what my new title means, so she can tell her friend Diana, next door down-but-one.”
In addition to the Head of Comedy Entertainment appointment, Rumpus Media has also promoted Chantal Barnes to Head of Development. Barnes has overseen the development slate at Rumpus for the past year co-devising Personal Dater (All4) and developing a Christmas special of The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganthan (BBC Two) and two yet to be announced pilots. Previous to this Barnes worked in development at Initial, where she was involved in the development of Almost Impossible Gameshow (ITV2), Give a Pet a Home (ITV) and Tenable (ITV).
Rumpus Media’s Joint Managing Director, Iain Wimbush, said: “Chantal’s relentlessly creative and has been invaluable this year working across all aspects of our diverse slate – from satirical current affairs to high concept gameshows. We’re so happy she’s going to lead the development team into 2019.”
Reporting to Emily Hudd and Iain Wimbush, Avril Spary takes up her new role in January 2019 and Chantal Barnes takes up her new role with immediate effect.
Staff Reporter
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