Channel 4 has commissioned a four part thriller about gang members living in East London, to be broadcast next year. The drama has been scripted by Ronan Bennett, and is being produced by Cowboy Films, who also made the hard-to-sit-through, but still rather good 'The Last King Of Scotland'.

In researching 'Top Boy', Bennett has turned to Gerry Jackson, a fitness coach who has worked with young people in Hackney to help them stay away from drugs. The scriptwriter says: "I knew that I wanted to write about this world from the bottom up, from the point of view, not of the police, but of the tinies and youngers I saw every day hanging around the supermarket forecourt. So I asked Gerry if he would introduce me to kids on the street. Some of their stories were brutal and frightening. Others were sad and some were unintentionally funny. I wanted Top Boy to look at the fabric of life in a world we hear a lot about, but about which we know a lot less than we think".

Elsewhere in programmes-about-crime news: that Christopher Ecclestone is to star as a drug lord in a new six parter for the BBC, 'The Shadow Line'. It's a "noir thriller", written, produced and directed by Hugo Blick and co-starring the likes of Antony Sher, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Stephen Rea, and Lesley Sharp. Filming begins this month on the Isle Of Man, and the show will air next year.

Channel 4 have announced that they are to broadcast the British Comedy Awards, screened by ITV for the past two decades, for the next three years. The network says it will show the awards live, and hope to inject "spontaneity, excitement and edge into the new look awards show". It could certainly do with it, as award shows go, it's had a very tired feeling for years now.

Channel 4 head Julian Bellamy adds: "From 'The Inbetweeners' and 'Peep Show', to our Comedy Labs and Showcases - we're passionate about comedy at Channel 4, and have a long heritage of supporting and developing new talent in this arena. After the success of our 'Comedy Gala', and our 'Alternative Election Night', we're excited about bringing the event of the comedy calendar to viewers this winter".

A study commissioned by Channel 4 has found that the number of men working TV outnumber women two to one. More than three quarters of people appearing on news programmes were men, for example, though things are a bit more even on the soaps, however, with women occupying around half the roles.

Researcher Dr Guy Cumberpatch claims that the report, part of a diversity project involving all the big broadcasters, is the most comprehensive ever study of people appearing on TV.

Channel 4 are to host a one off comedy gala featuring appearances from the likes of Michael McIntyre, Omid Djalili, David Mitchell, Alan Carr, Bill Bailey and Jo Brand, in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital. The show, imaginatively entitled 'Channel 4’s Comedy Gala', will take place at London's O2 venue at the end of March, and will be broadcast in April. C4 are calling the event the "biggest live stand-up show in history".

Entertainment head Justin Gorman says: "From Peep Show to Chatty Man to The Inbetweeners – Channel 4 has impeccable comedy pedigree, and we're incredibly proud of the talent we have on the channel. We are very pleased that so many other comedians and celebrities are joining us for what we fully intend to be the comedy event of the year".

Channel 4 has announced that, after years and years of continually showing reruns of the successful sitcom, that it will drop 'Friends' from its schedules in favour of new programmes. The broadcaster's relationship with the show, according to a deal agreed with Warner Bros International Television Distribution, will end in the autumn of next year.

Channel 4 head of acquisitions Gill Hay says: "After 15 years, 10 hit series and 236 terrific episodes it’s time to say goodbye to old Friends and welcome new ones, in the form of more comedy, drama and entertainment from the US and UK. We are incredibly proud to have been the home of 'Friends' for so long, but at a point when the Channel is undergoing a period of creative renewal it felt like the right time to part company".

To be fair, I think it could have happened sooner. But perhaps that's just me...

Channel 4 has announced that David Abraham, currently chief executive of digital broadcaster UK TV is to become their new chief executive, replacing Andy Duncan, who stepped down in November. It's not yet clear when Abraham will begin his new role, an interim management team led by Anne Bulford are in place until he takes over.

Abraham says: "This is an extremely exciting, if challenging, time to be working in the media. Innovation has been part of Channel 4's history and it will be at the heart of its future. I look forward to leading the whole organisation through its next period of growth and innovation, both creatively and commercially".

According to reports, a TV company are looking for terminally ill patients who will agree to have their body embalmed for a Channel 4 programme examining the practices of ancient Egyptian burial. The idea was apparently exposed when an undercover journalist pretending to be an interested party spoke to Richard Belfield, an executive producer from Fulcrum TV. He was quoted as saying that the body might be exhibited in a museum, to help people to understand the mummification process. Channel 4 has confirmed its proposed involvement in the programme, saying: "If the scientists are able to find a donor, we would be willing to follow the process".

Channel 4 never ones to shy away from this kind of thing of course; they broadcast the first public autopsy back in 2002, if you remember. The Egypt production is in the very early stages, however, and it's not certain that the programme will go ahead.

Channel 4 has appointed two new drama commissioners. Roberto Troni, from independent company Ecosse Films has been taken on as a comissioning editor, as has Robert Wulff-Cochrane, whose appointment is a more internal thing, as he was previously head of development, overseeing the, er, development of projects such as 'Red Riding' and 'Endgame'. They'll report to new head of drama Camilla Campbell, who replaced Liza Marshall, as previously reported, late last year.

According to reports, yesterday's launch of the last ever series of Celebrity Big Brother was seen by 5.8million viewers. I wonder if that counts in people like myself, who accidentally switched onto Channel 4 and watched half a minute before realising what it was? Anyway, the reality programme beat an episode of BBC's award winning series 'Wallander', starring Kenneth Branagh, which aired in the same time slot, and attracted 5.4million viewers.  

If you don't know it already, the final line up of celebrity housemates are footie star turned actor Vinnie Jones, who is currently favourite to win, Hollywood star (well, kinda, back in the day) Stephen Baldwin, former LA madam Heidi Fleiss, actress Stephanie Beacham, UK grime type Lady Sovereign, US R&B singer Sisqo, Swedish DJ Basshunter, that Dane Bowers (not sure what he does any more except appear in reality shows), glamour model Nicola T, Alex Reid - who is apparently a cage fighter but is more famous for being Katie Price's ex – and Ekaterina Ivanova, who is apparently now a 'celebrity' because she went out with Ronnie Wood for a bit.

Ofcom has ruled that a BBC documentary exposing the health problems suffered by pedigree dogs was not unfair to The Kennel Club. The programme showed how the body's rules about the physical traits different breeds of dogs should have has led to health problems for the animals, and The Kennel Club complained, saying they had not been treated fairly. In total, four of the organisation's five complaints were rejected.

Ofcom say that no unfairness was shown, the editing was fine, and that the Kennel Club "was not deceived about the purpose of the programme". They did, however, say that the Kennel Club wasn't given "proper opportunity to respond to an allegation about eugenics and a comparison with Hitler and the Nazi Party, or an allegation that it covered up the nature of an operation carried out on a Crufts Best in Show winner".

The row about the documentary led the BBC to drop their coverage of Crufts, after having televised  the pet show for 42 years. It will be shown on Channel 4 as of next year. Which is a shame, in my opinion; I think it's better off our screens.

Producer Justin Gorman has been appointed as Channel 4's head of entertainment, replacing Andrew Newman. Gorman joins C4 from Objective Productions, which is where, interestingly, his predecessor has gone to work. Oh, but Newman was head of entertainment and comedy, whereas this role has now been split into two.

Gorman  will report to Channel 4 head Julian Bellamy, who says this: "This is a key moment for entertainment on both Channel 4 and E4. The freeing up of commissioning hours and cash brought about by the decision not to recommission Big Brother means there are a multitude of opportunities in this area. Great entertainment is a key part of Channel 4, and I look forward to working closely with Justin to find the next generation of groundbreaking entertainment shows for the channel".

Camilla Campbell has been named as the successor to Liza Marshall in the role of Channel 4's head of drama. Marshall, as previously reported, recently announced that she was taking up a position with Ridley and Tony Scott's production company Scott Free.

Campbell is currently a commissioning editor at Channel 4, and has overseen shows like 'Shameless', 'Hollyoaks' and 'Skins'; she previously worked for a number of different producers, including Granada and Tiger Aspect. She'll begin her new job on 7 December.

Campbell told Broadcast: "Liza has done an absolutely fantastic job with serials that are contemporary in feeling if not in subject matter, and also with singles that really have something to say. I want to continue that. Channel 4 has recently taken stick over drama series not working but I think they are actually really healthy".

Terry Burns, a former permanent secretary at the Treasury, has been appointed the new chairman of Channel 4. He takes over from Luke Johnson.

Confirming his appointment, which had to be approved by OfCom and Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw (C4 being state owned), Burns said this: "I am delighted to be joining Channel 4. This is a time of great change as we experience the impact of the rapid development of digital technology in the communications sector and Channel 4 has a very special and continuing role to play".

Burns first challenge will be to find a new CEO, given that the channels top exec, Andy Duncan, is also standing down.

Liza Marshall, who, as previously reported, is leaving her job as Channel 4's head of drama, has been talking about her new role with Scott Free, the company owned by directors Ridley and Tony Scott. The production outfit presently does most of its work from Los Angeles, but the brothers are keen to develop the UK end of their business, and that's where Marshall will come in.

Marshall explains: "Ridley loves the UK market and the talent here, but has not found the right person to run it. He loves the shows I worked on such as The Devil’s Whore and he has optioned Red Riding. That shows a commitment".

She goes on to say that she is planning a mixture of feature films and drama aimed at UK broadcasters. "It’s going to be difficult with drama budgets as they are", she told Broadcast, "but there are other ways to fund programming, such as by co-pros. We already have a feature films deal with 20th Century Fox and I have been brought in because I have good contacts in the UK business".

On her departure from Channel 4, which happened just as she was to be given an extra £20m for her drama budget, she continued: "All of a sudden the budget was much bigger and I am leaving with a number of shows in production, and that’s hard. I wasn't looking for a move, but I was approached by Ridley and it was too big an opportunity to turn down".

Liza Marshall has quit her job as Channel 4's head of drama and is gooing to work for Scott Free, the production company founded by director brothers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.

Channel 4 head Julian Bellamy said: "Channel 4 drama under the leadership of Liza Marshall has consistently punched above its weight with challenging and ambitious work including The Devil’s Whore, Boy A, Mark of Cain, Skins and Shameless. We wish her well in her exciting new role and the search now starts for her successor".

Ridley Scott, meanwhile, says this: "At a time of uncertainty in many areas of the business, and in particular in the speciality film sector in the US, we believe it is an opportune time to step up our commitment to European film-making. Liza’s appointment enables us to offer a real home for creative talent and help them navigate the new business models which will be needed to get films made".

Ofcom has said that Channel 4 breached their code of conduct with the first episod of their four part documentary feature 'Boys and Girls Alone' because they failed to inform the audience regarding the level of care given to the children who took part in the programme.

The broadcasting watchdog received 180 complaints about the show, in which a group of children were shown living unsupervised, and concluded that information given about the youngsters' circumstances was "insufficient to reassure viewers about their welfare, given the editorial purpose of the series and the specific context of episode one".

It wasn't all bad news, however; Ofcom also concluded that the safeguards put in place to protect the children - which, as established, were not adequately explained to viewers -  were "numerous and comprehensive". Channel 4's head of programming Julian Bellamy said: "Channel 4 takes its responsibilities towards the welfare of children in its programming extremely seriously”, and said he was pleased that the producers' "careful consideration and preparation" had been recognised by Ofcom.

Channel 4 have signed a deal with YouTube which will see the TV channel making its programmes available via the website. Shows like 'Skins', 'Hollyoaks', and 'Peep Show', as well as thousands of hours of archived programmes such as 'Brass Eye' and 'Teachers' will begin to appear in the coming months. The shows will only be accessible in the UK.

Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan says: "This strategic partnership is another important milestone for us and we’re delighted to be combining the power of the 4 brand and the appeal of our content with YouTube’s unrivalled reach and reputation online".