News Broadcasting
BBC splits comedy and entertainment commissioning
MUMBAI: The British Broadcasting Corporation has separated the comedy and entertainment commissioning. The creation of the post, sees commissioning of entertainment and comedy programmes separated for the first time.
The divorce of two means putting stronger emphasis on comedy as genre in its own right, according to media reports.
Naming Lucy Lumsden as the BBC’s first controller of comedy commissioning. She will report to BBC television director, Jana Bennett. Recently, Jon Beazley had been appointed as the BBC controller of entertainment commissioning.
Lumsden will take responsibility for commissioning comedy both in-house and from the independent sector. Her appointment as head of commissioning comes after her fellow comedy executive, Jon Plowman was given the position to head the BBC’s in-house comedy team.
Lumsden has covered the role since former head of comedy commissioning, Mark Freeland defected to the indie, leaving behind Coupling and Men Behaving Badly, Hartswood Films, in April.
Lumsden has worked with the BBC’s independent comedy team for the last seven years, taking responsibility for hits such as The Catherine Tate Show, Monkey Dust and Nighty Night.
She started her career at the BBC in 1992 on The Comic Strip before working on a number of dramas and documentaries.
News Broadcasting
TV9 to host What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 in Delhi
PM Narendra Modi to keynote two day forum on India and the world
NEW DELHI: TV9 Network is gearing up to host the fourth edition of its flagship What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 on March 23 and 24 in the national capital, bringing together a wide spectrum of voices to debate India’s place in a shifting global order.
The summit will open with a keynote address by Narendra Modi, setting the tone for this year’s theme, “India and the world”, as the country positions itself at the crossroads of economic growth, geopolitical shifts and technological change.
From cabinet ministers to chief ministers, business leaders to cultural figures, the event promises a crowded stage and a lively exchange of ideas. Union ministers such as Piyush Goyal and Jyotiraditya Scindia are expected to attend, alongside state leaders including Mohan Yadav, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Bhajan Lal Sharma, Nayab Singh Saini and Bhagwant Mann.
Political voices from across the aisle, including Smriti Irani, Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi, will also join the conversation, ensuring that the debates are as diverse as they are dynamic.
Adding a cultural and sporting touch, personalities such as yoga guru Swami Ramdev, poet Kumar Vishwas and cricketing names like Sourav Ganguly, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh are set to share the stage. Global business leaders and diplomats will further widen the lens, reflecting the summit’s international outlook.
Speaking ahead of the event, TV9 Network managing director and chief executive officer Barun Das, said India stands at a unique moment in history, combining demographic strength, technological capability and entrepreneurial energy. He noted that in uncertain times, honest conversations and bold ideas will shape the country’s trajectory.
The summit will explore themes ranging from economic growth and governance to innovation, sustainability and culture, positioning itself as a platform for dialogue at a time when the world is in flux.
With a packed agenda and a high-profile guest list, What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 aims to do more than just talk. It seeks to capture a moment where India is not only part of the global conversation, but increasingly helping lead it.
