In its first year it has produced 'I Deal' starring Johnny Vegas (a co-venture with Baby Cow), fourteen episodes of 'Spine Chillers', and '10:96', a pilot for BBC Three written by the winner of the 2004 Northern Comedy Writers Bursary, Tony Burgess. As a bi-media department this Unit has never underestimated how crucial radio is for developing emerging comedy talent. In the past year there have been a number of Radio 4 commissions, including 'Happy Families', written by John Bishop, as well as five original comedies as part of the Regional Radio Scheme. Working closely with emerging talent, Jon Mountague, who heads the Unit, has established a number of initiatives aimed at developing writers and performers. These include comedy writing workshops and seminars, talent showcases and regular talks to groups of writers about the work the unit does the aim of this is to actively engage new talent in order to bring it to the BBC in Manchester. A close working relationship has been established with Kate Rowland's thriving writer's initiative, Northern Exposure, and BBC Talent who fund the position of a Northern Talent Scout. The Unit is also constantly exploring the possibilities of partnerships with new and emerging independent producers. Looking forward to 2005, the Unit has already commissioned 'Funland', a comedy drama set in Manchester and Blackpool, written by Jeremy Dyson (League of Gentlemen) and Simon Ashdown (EastEnders), and a number of brand new pilots for BBC Three. After the huge success of the writer's bursary scheme, a second award will be up for grabs as well as regional partnerships with BBC Local Radio and Screen Yorkshire in Leeds. The Manchester Comedy Unit's key objective is to keep extending the range of comedy voices that reflect the audience interests. Working at such close quarters with the talent enables the team to discover and develop the next breakthrough northern writer/performer in the tradition of Victoria Wood, Steve Coogan, Caroline Aherne and Peter Kay. | 
