Friday, 1 March 2024

Deadline: Harry Enfield Steps Down As Director Of His Production Outfit After 12 Years

Story from Deadline:

Iconic British comedian Harry Enfield has stepped down as director of his production company after 12 years.

The Harry & Paul star founded Balloon Entertainment in 2012 alongside Skins writer Bryan Elsley, with a focus on “nurturing emerging talent.” Its first commission was Channel 4 comedy Dates.

Enfield was terminated as director of Balloon Entertainment on January 12, according to Companies House. The remaining three directors are Elsley, development boss Dave Evans and company manager Lindsay Taggart. Deadline understands Enfield could still make shows for Balloon and he remains on good terms with the company. Balloon declined comment and reps for Enfield did not respond to requests for comment.

Balloon has been a consistent player in UK TV over the past dozen years, making numerous shows with and without Enfield.

Past shows include An Evening With Harry Enfield & Paul Whitehouse, Channel 4/Netflix cyber-thriller Kiss Me First and BBC Three drama Clique, the latter two of which Elsley wrote. More recently, Balloon made BBC musical drama Champion with New Pictures, which Netflix co-produced.

Enfield is a British comedy legend who first emerged on Channel 4’s Saturday Live and made his name alongside comedy partner Whitehouse with sketches featuring iconic characters such as Loadsamoney and Tim Nice-But-Dim.

He starred opposite Kathy Burke in cult comedy Kevin & Perry Go Large and has also appeared in The Windsors as Prince Charles (now King) and as Tony Blair in Channel 4’s Prince Andrew: The Musical.

© 2024 Deadline.