Former BBC radio executive Caroline Raphael, who was responsible for Little Britain, The League of Gentlemen and Cabin Pressure, is to join the world’s biggest book publisher as head of audio operations of Penguin Random House UK.
Raphael, one of the most influential comedy executives of her generation, left her role as a Radio 4 commissioning executive (and programming boss of Radio 4 Extra) last year after more than 30 years with the corporation.
She will be editorial director, audio, at Penguin Random House UK, leading its audio editorial and production teams as part of “big ambitions” to build its spoken word business on digital and physical formats.
Raphael said: “I’ve been a fervent reader of and listener to stories my entire life.
“I am enormously proud to be joining Penguin Random House Audio. New digital technologies are liberating the way we can engage with stories, fiction and fact, wherever and whenever we want them; so what a wonderful time to be joining one of the world’s great publishers.”
Penguin Random House UK audio content includes the best selling Roald Dahl collection, voiced by Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Stephen Fry, and The Girl on the Train, which was the publisher’s fastest selling audio book to date.
The company said Raphael would “help shape and deliver an ambitious audio growth strategy for Penguin Random House UK’s eight publishing companies, working with authors, performance and production talent to commission and publish tomorrow’s bestsellers”.
She will report to Videl Bar-Kar, audio publisher at Penguin Random House UK, who said: “I’m delighted that Caroline is bringing her wealth of experience and unrivalled ability in understanding audiences and discovering major new talent to help us achieve our big ambitions to grow our spoken word business.
“We will focus on combining the stories and ideas that matter with first-class performances to create a richly immersive storytelling experience for our listeners, and for the new audiences that are discovering spoken word every day.”
At the BBC Raphael was also responsible for early shows featuring Miranda Hart and Sarah Millican. Numerous radio shows transferred to TV under her watch, including Dead Ringers and Count Arthur Strong among many others.
Raphael was also commissioning editor of Radio 4’s spin-off digital station, Radio 4 Extra, which last week overtook Radio 3 and 6 Music to become the BBC’s most popular digital-only station.
She left the BBC after a cost-saving restructure reduced the post to a three days a week role.
Raphael, whose full title was commissioning editor, comedy and fiction, starts her new role on Wednesday.
