'Dead Donkey' writer will not work for BBC

The creator of some of the most popular comedies on television says he will no longer write for BBC1, because the channel has become obsessed by short-term ratings and is governed by focus groups. Andy Hamilton, author of Drop the Dead Donkey, says "life is too short" for him to continue working for them.

He claims officials at BBC1 pressured a writer to remove lesbian characters from his script to "incorporate the conservative tastes of focus groups". In today's Independent, Hamilton, who made his name on Not the Nine o'Clock News, says it is "depressing [BBC1] has become so marketing-led". He adds: "Ideas on casting have to be flushed through the narrow stackpipe of celebrity. Laughter tracks are imposed on shows that weren't designed to have them (because supposedly this boosts the figures)."

Hamilton says that "audience insight managers" who are marketing experts sit in development meetings to influence writers to include topics deemed popular with viewers.

Last night the writer said that he would continue to work for other BBC channels and for Radio 4, "which have not lost their nerve".