Kevin Plowman, a television and film producer, has had a long and illustrious career with the BBC, spanning over three decades. He began his journey in 1980, producing Russell Harty's chat show Harty, and quickly moved on to executive producing, working on popular sketch shows such as A Bit of Fry and Laurie.
Plowman's education took him to Welwyn Garden City and University College, Oxford, where he was a member of the University College Players and befriended several individuals who would go on to achieve great success in the comedy world. One of these friends, Mel Smith, directed Plowman in a production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, while another, Lindsay Anderson, was a director he met at the Royal Court Theatre.
After Oxford, Plowman worked in theatre for a time before joining Granada TV. He eventually returned to the BBC, where he was responsible for producing and commissioning programs produced in-house, including the highly successful The Office and French & Saunders. In October 2005, Plowman became Head of Comedy, overseeing the BBC's in-house comedy production, although he no longer commissions programs.
In June 2007, Plowman announced his decision to leave the BBC after 27 years, opting instead to become a freelance producer. He expressed his hope to continue working with the BBC, producing programs for both the corporation and other networks.
Throughout his career, Plowman has been recognized for his contributions to British comedy. In 2003, The Observer named him one of the '50 Funniest or Most Influential People in British Comedy', and in 2006, he received the 'Judges' Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Television' at the Royal Television Society awards.
In 2013, Plowman was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to British comedy.
