As last week started off with another thrilling Channel 5 documentary, it's been a strange few days. 'The Twins That Share a Body' on the Monday night has left me full of questions, not such a good thing when I'm working on a new script. I'm working from home this week as the BBC is pretty hectic at the moment. It's great to spend some time writing in my room but I have really had to restrain myself from extensive Conjoined Twin research on the Internet and stick to working on my script.
It's been an unusually sunny week in Manchester though, and that teamed with a cocktail I discovered called Magnum PI has resulted in another pleasant week. My writing's going well and I'm feeling productive, and I've had no alcohol today whatsoever. It's so nice to have time to enjoy writing instead of feeling stressed that my jokes aren't funny and my puncuation's rubbish.
Oh, and Happy Birthday Mum! I hope your present arrived on time. If it hasn't I shall be writing to Watchdog x
It's amazing. After a couple of weeks of terrifyingly clichéd 'Writer's block' my brain seems to be full of ideas again. I've had so many thoughts popping in to my head I've caught myself muttering, a bit like Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. Obviously, whether or not those ideas are actually funny is another matter entirely.
I hadn't realised that being a comedy writer could be such a daunting prospect, but the pressure to be funny now is an incredibly serious matter. Always one for multi-tasking, I've been working on a few different ideas over the last couple of weeks. Obviously I thought they were all hilarious, BAFTA written all over them, but I'm actually working at the BBC now and professional funny people read my ideas. Scary. But absolutely amazing. It's great when I write something that my Mum and Dad find hilarious but sometimes I wonder if their opinion could be slightly biased. Having to show my work straight to the BBC is ever so slightly terrifying but when people like them it's fantastic. Now I'm learning to relax and trust my own sense of humour, although trying to remember that not everyone finds old people falling over funny. I can't help it, I've been brainwashed by You've Been Framed.
In other news, I was pleased to realise my suspected Bird Flu was merely a common cold. Unfortunately it means I'm no longer eligible for compensation but I do get to have some Calpol and go to bed at 8pm. Yessss.
Just when January was proving to be cold and rubbish, a fantastic new fad is sweeping the nation. Mini-pigs! Tiny little pigs that you can dress up and carry in your handbag - hooray! Already proving very popular in China, mini-pigs are the next big thing for (sh)IT girls and I can't wait until the Arndale Centre is full of young Chavettes carrying miniature farm animals in their Primark bags. I think a mini-pig would be the perfect accessory for my new career. Chihuahuas are very last year, and you can't milk one of those. I'm contemplating buying a min-pig from Ebay, but I don't know if it would survive the jiffy bag...
Anyway, I've been at the BBC for about 4 weeks now and it's been fantastic so far. I've already been to the North West Comedy Awards, which were brilliant. I also got to have a look round the set of 'Ideal' a couple of weeks ago which was really good. Moz's flat looks just like my Student Halls so I felt right at home - except there were no cleaners that looked like Jimmy Krankie, stealing my cigarettes and spitting on the floor.
It has been strange trying to think of my self as a 'writer', instead of just some girl with a big gob that writes things. It's a great opportunity though and it's wonderful to have experienced people reading your work without them writing "See me" at the bottom in red biro. I shall endeavour to develop my ideas, and try and raise some serious philosophical debates within my blog. But don't hold your breath x
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After 21 years in sunny Norfolk I decided to lock up my combine harvester and head north.
I worked in Daytime television for three years and decided the time had come for me to explore and develop my skills.
Having always been a huge fan of Northern comedy, and Blanche from Coronation Street, I decided that Manchester would be the perfect place to start.
I began a degree in Media and Performance at Salford University in 2004. Over the past three years I've tried my hand at all sorts, including stand-up, but have always enjoyed writing the most.
I suppose it comes from a love of the way people talk to each other, and I love nothing more than listening in to old ladies' conversations on the bus.
After taking a scriptwriting course at university last year I realised that writing for television was something I really wanted to pursue. Luckily for me, my lovely tutor put me in touch with Comedy North and after being put forward for the Writer's Bursary I won.
Winning the Bursary and working with the comedy department here in Manchester has been a dream come true. I still can't quite believe that they've let me in to the building, let alone given me all the support and advice I should need in embarking on a career in writing.
I couldn't have hoped for a better opportunity, particularly at the beginning of my career.
Now I just have to write that award-winning sitcom…
