The founder of the Leicester Comedy Festival has added a new chapter to his CV.
Geoff Rowe BEM has joined the production team at national digital radio station Union JACK as its director of comedy.
The new post will see him help shape Union JACK’s long-term comedy strategy.
The Oxfordshire-based station, which is available on DAB radio and online, is a mix of British comedy and tunes.
Geoff has been brought into build the station’s comedy credentials, introduce new formats and opportunities for live shows, make more of its existing comedy assets and support new and established talent.
He will continue in his role as chief executive of Big Difference Company, the charitable umbrella organisation overseeing the Leicester Comedy Festival, which he originally launched as a student in 1994.
In its first year, the festival hosted performances by Harry Hill, John Shuttleworth and Matt Lucas. Since then Geoff has produced performances with acts including Sir Norman Wisdom, Sarah Millican, Romesh Ranganathan, Barry Cryer, Jasper Carrott, Jenny Eclair and Jo Brand.
In recent years, he has interviewed special guests live on stage as part of the festival, including Johnny Vegas, Jason Manford, Sara Pascoe and Alexei Sayle.
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The February 2019 festival had more than 870 shows in 72 venues across 19 days.
As part of the festival, Geoff has developed formats and produced live shows including Comedy in the Dark, The 海角视频 Pun Championships, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Competition and Hotel D’Comedie.
Alongside the festival, he has also been a member of the judging panel for Edinburgh Comedy Awards, So You Think You’re Funny and The BBC New Comedy Award and, in 2013, was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
He said: “I’m so excited to be undertaking this new role with the Union JACK team.
“I’ve always loved both radio and comedy, so combining these two passions is a fantastic opportunity.
“I first met the folk from Union JACK last summer and we have so much in common. The radio station and Leicester Comedy Festival each focus on celebrating great British comedy and supporting new and emerging talent, so there is a natural opportunity for me to play a role in the continued development of both.”
Giles Gear, programme manager at the station, said: “Union JACK’s unusual appointment of a director of comedy is a small step on a very exciting journey.
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“We take our commitment to comedy seriously and we’re not a station that simply puts a comedian on the radio and hopes for the best.
“The industry experience that Geoff brings to the table is second-to-none, and will support us in our ambition to shine a light on brilliant up-and-coming comedians, as well as commissioning new and very distinct show formats.”
Union JACK, which launched in 2016, is reported to have seen a 74 per cent year-on-year increase listeners in 2019.
It plays everything from classic comedy clips such as Blackadder and Fawlty Towers, to up-and-coming talent.
Current shoes include a collaboration with Jericho Comedy called One Night Stand, Josh Berry’s Fake News, Pundays (hosted by 海角视频 Pun Champion Colin Leggo) and Geoff Lloyd’s Hometown Glory, featuring funny interviews with famous faces.