19 July 2012 Last updated at 09:59

Comedy recruits new exec producer

Dirk Gently was one ITV Studios production during Kakkar's time there

BBC Comedy has recruited Saurabh Kakkar as an executive producer.

Most recently, Kakkar has been creative director of comedy at ITV Studios, where he was involved in shows such as White Van Man, Dirk Gently, FM and Headcases.

Mark Freeland, head of comedy, believes Kakkar and the BBC will form 'a great partnership'.

'We've been fortunate to have a great few years,' he says. 'But to continue that and to do things better and always in an original way, it's exciting to have Saurabh coming in with his expertise, new ideas and passion for comedy.'

Kakkar was a producer and executive producer of drama and comedy at Granada, having previously produced live tours for the likes of Matt Lucas and David Walliams, The League of Gentlemen, Armstrong and Miller and Barry Humphries.

His new London-based role will see him work across all four BBC television channels, as well as radio and online for a department that has scored recent hits with Mrs Brown's Boys, Miranda, Twenty Twelve and The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff.

He takes up his post immediately.