Boffola Pictures co-founder to depart

The co-founder and co-chief creative officer of Am I Being Unreasonable? indie Boffola Pictures, Kate Daughton, is stepping down after four years, Broadcast has learned.  

Daughton left her role as BBC head of comedy in 2021 to launch the indie alongside her co-chief creative officer Shane Allen, who was BBC comedy director at the time. The pair also won the backing of BBC Studios-owned Lookout Point.  

A BBC Studios spokeswoman said: “Kate Daughton, co-founder of Boffola Pictures, has decided to move on from the company she launched with Shane Allen in 2021. Under their leadership, Boffola has delivered acclaimed comedies including Am I Being Unreasonable and The Power of Parker for BBC1. 

“As she steps away to explore new opportunities, Shane Allen will continue to lead the company, in which BBC Studios retains a minority stake.” 

Succession plans have not yet been revealed.  

In her five years at the BBC, Daughton ordered comedies including BBC2’s Upstart Crow and BBC3’s Man Like Mobeen, as well as BBC1’s Toast reboot – a show she originally worked on during her time at Objective. She also has exec producer credits on BBC titles including Back To Life, Alma’s Not Normal, In my Skin, Ghosts, This Time with Alan Partridge and Two Doors Down.  

Boffola landed two BBC1 comedies last month – Ann Droid (w/t), co-written by Diane Morgan and co-produced with Witchcraft Industries, and The Reluctant Vampire, starring Lenny Rush.  

It is also behind BBC1 title The Power of Parker, the second series of which launched earlier this month, and BBC1 returner Am I Being Unreasonable?. The latter was Boffola’s debut commission in 2021, and series two aired in February this year.  

Meanwhile, last year’s Channel 4 comedy Blap Peaked is up for a Broadcast Digital Award and was nominated for a short-form Bafta.