Find Me Funny: BBC Cymru Wales launches scheme to find the next generation of comedy writers

Do you love to make people laugh? Do your one-liners have people in stitches? Have you got a Welsh comedy idea that you’re bursting to write? Then BBC Cymru Wales wants to hear from you.

Published: 14 November 2017
We’re looking for a new and fresh look at the lives and characters of contemporary Wales and exciting and inventive voices that reflect the diversity of this country.
— Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Wales

BBC Wales is launching a brand-new initiative to find up to three new comedy programmes for BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer. Find Me Funny is a new comedy pilot initiative aimed at writers living or working full time in Wales, or those writers who can represent Welsh culture with authenticity, with the aim of commissioning and broadcasting the sit-coms or comedy drama pilots in 2018/19. The pilot that makes the biggest impact - and gets the most laughs - will go on to be commissioned as a series.

Speaking at an industry event for programme makers and writers in Cardiff today, Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Wales said: “Wales has funny bones - we’re a nation of comedy greats such as Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and Rhod Gilbert, to name but a few. Now BBC Wales is looking for the next generation of comedy drama and sitcom writers. We’re looking for a new and fresh look at the lives and characters of contemporary Wales and exciting and inventive voices that reflect the diversity of this country.”

Controller, BBC Comedy, Shane Allen, says: “This is a very exciting opportunity for us to unearth and support the next wave of Welsh comedy talent in a very practical and focused way. Gavin & Stacey was a smash hit BBC sitcom filmed in Wales, with prominent Welsh portrayal at its heart, that audiences continue to love - we’d like to build on that by giving a leg up to newer comedy writers and performers who are looking for their break.”

Anne Edyvean, Head of BBC Writersroom, says: “We’re delighted to be working with BBC Wales on this exciting new opportunity for Welsh writers. We’re really looking forward to reading scripts that tell surprising and funny stories about today’s Wales.”

Budding and established writers have two months to complete their pilots, which should be at least 30 minutes long. The deadline for submissions, which should be sent via the BBC Writersroom website, is 15 January 2018.

  • Submissions should be a comedy-drama or situation comedy script for television and iPlayer of at least 30 minutes in length. We are not looking for ‘mockumentary’.
  • This is a comedy initiative designed to reflect contemporary Wales and is open to writers living or working full time in Wales, or those writers who can represent Welsh culture with authenticity.
  • Writers may also attach a brief outline (1-3 pages) of further episodes and the series as a whole.
  • Writers can submit a maximum of two scripts. These scripts should not have been previously produced.
  • All scripts will be read “blind”, i.e. without a name attached, until after full-read stage. Please remember to remove your name and contact details from your script.
  • All submissions will be guaranteed at least a ten-page read from the reading panel. Longlisted submissions will be read in full. BBC Writersroom producers and BBC Wales commissioners will read all shortlisted submissions.
  • Scripts can be submitted with or without a production company attached. Where a script is unattached, we will partner successful scripts with appropriate production companies.

NTW

Find Me Funny: BBC Cymru Wales yn lansio cynllun newydd i ganfod awduron comedi'r dyfodol

Ydych chi’n joio gwneud i bobl chwerthin? Ydy’ch ffrindiau yn eu dyblau yn gwrando ar eich jôcs? Oes gennych chi syniad am gomedi Gymreig? Yna, mae BBC Cymru Wales eisiau clywed gennych.

Heddiw mae BBC Cymru yn lansio cynllun newydd sbon i ganfod hyd at dair rhaglen gomedi ar gyfer BBC One Wales a BBC iPlayer. Mae Find Me Funny yn gynllun i ganfod rhaglenni comedi peilot ac wedi ei anelu at awduron sy’n byw neu’n gweithio’n llawn amser yng Nghymru, neu’r rheiny sy’n gallu adlewyrchu diwylliant Cymru. Y nôd yw comisiynu a darlledu’r peilots comedi yn 2018/19. Fe fydd y rhaglen beilot sy’n creu’r argraff orau - ac yn codi’r chwerthiniad uchaf - yn cael ei chomisiynu’n gyfres.

Gan siarad mewn digwyddiad i wneuthurwyr rhaglenni teledu ac awduron yng Nghaerdydd heddiw, dywed Nick Andrews, Pennaeth Comisiynu BBC Cymru: “Mae chwerthin a chomedi yn rhan annatod ohonom ni fel Cymry - ’da ni’n genedl o gomedïwyr fel Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon a Rhod Gilbert, i enwi dim ond rhai. Mae BBC Cymru yn edrych am y genhedlaeth nesaf o ysgrifenwyr drama a chomedi. ’Da ni’n edrych am ogwydd newydd ar fywydau a chymeriadau’r Gymru fodern a lleisiau newydd a chyffrous sy’n adlewyrchu amrywiaeth ein gwlad.”

Dywed Pennaeth Comedi’r BBC, Shane Allen: “Dyma gyfle cyffrous iawn i ni ganfod a chefnogi haen newydd o dalent comedi Cymreig mewn ffordd ymarferol iawn. Roedd Gavin & Stacey yn gyfres gomedi boblogaidd tu hwnt wedi ei ffilmio yng Nghymru ac yn portreadu’r wlad mewn ffordd sydd dal wrth fodd cynulleidfaoedd - rydym am adeiliadu ar hynny gan roi hwb i ysgrifenwyr comedi newydd yn ogystal â pherfformwyr sy’n edrych am eu cyfle mawr.”

Dywed Anne Edyvean, Pennaeth BBC Writersroom: “Rydym wrth ein boddau yn cael cydweithio efo BBC Cymru ar y cyfle cyffrous hwn i awduron Cymreig. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at ddarllen y sgriptiau sy’n adrodd hanesion doniol a rhyfeddol am Gymru heddiw.”

Mae gan awduron newydd a sefydledig ddau fis i gwblhau sgript eu rhaglen beilot, a ddylai fod o leiaf 30 munud o hyd. Dylid cyflwyno’r ceisiadau, drwy wefan BBC Writersroom, erbyn y 15fed o Ionawr 2018.

  • Mae angen i’r ceisiadau fod yn sgript drama-gomedi neu ‘sit-com’ ar gyfer teledu ac iPlayer ac o leiaf hanner awr o hyd. Nid ydym yn edrych am gomedi ffug-ffeithiol.
  • Mae’r cynllun hwn yn gofyn am ddeunydd sy’n adlewyrchu’r Gymru fodern ac yn agored i ysgrifenwyr sy’n byw neu’n gweithio’n llawn amser yng Nghymru, neu’r ysgrifenwyr hynny sy’n gallu adlewychru diwylliant Cymreig.
  • Gall awduron hefyd gynnwys amlinelliad byr (1 - 3 tudalen) o benodau pellach a’r gyfres fel cyfanwaith.
  • Gall awduron anfon hyd at ddau sgript. Ni ddylai’r sgript fod wedi ei chynhyrchu yn y gorffennol.
  • Caiff y sgriptiau eu darllen yn ddi-enw hyd nes cwblhau’r darlleniad llawn. Cofiwch dynnu eich manylion cyswllt a’ch enw o’r sgript.
  • Mae gwarant y caiff pob cais ei darllen hyd o leiaf tudalen 10 o’r gwaith gan y panel darllen. Caiff ceisiadau sy’n cyrraedd y rhestr hir eu darllen ar eu hyd. Bydd cynhyrchwyr BBC Writersroom a chomisiynwyr BBC Cymru yn darllen bob cais sydd ar y rhestr fer.
  • Mae modd i sgriptiau gael eu cyflwyno gyda chwmni cynhyrchu ynghlwm â nhw ond does dim rhaid. Lle nad oes cwmni, fe wnawn bartneru sgriptiau llwyddiannus efo cwmni cynhyrchu addas.

NTW

Tagged: