Radio can be saviour during TV slowdown, insists BBC comedy chief

Crybabies, who have already featured on Radio 4 with an adaptation of their live sci-fi parody Bagbeard, will return with a four-part pastiche of film genres. Photograph: Rebecca Need-Menear

Radio can fill the gap left by a slump in TV production to champion new British talent, the head of BBC Radio 4 comedy has said.

Julia McKenzie, the station’s commissioning editor for comedy, said it is still taking risks amid a “challenging” commissioning landscape and that she is keen to give opportunities to people “desperately trying to start their career”.