Comedy schemes
Schemes for new and emerging comedy creators and performers
BBC Writers Open Call - open now
Submit your drama or comedy-drama script to BBC Writers to be selected for further development schemes including the BBC Writers’ Scripted and Voices groups. Open Call accepts submissions annually with full details and dates on the BBC Writers website.
BBC New Comedy Awards
Nationwide comedy search to find the best new stand-up performers. Shortlisted entries compete in televised regional heats across the UK with the winner from each performing at the final, broadcast on BBC One. The winner will receive a prize of £1,000, a paid commission to write and perform in a 30-minute audio pilot mentored by a BBC comedy commissioner. Further information on the New Comedy Awards website.
BBC Comedy Collective
Comedy bursary scheme offering emerging writers, producers, directors and editors paid shadowing opportunities on BBC comedy productions, production mentors and £5k grants to help develop new material. Previous winners have received script commissions, produced successful TV and radio shows and won BAFTAs. Applications will be open in the Spring via the BBC Commissioning website.
BBC Short Stuff - send your content now
Year-round opportunity for comedy writers and performers from or based in Scotland to develop new ideas and characters via experimental short-form sketches published on the BBC Short Stuff website. Send the BBC Scotland commissioning team ideas for new sketches at any time.
BBC Young Writers' Award
Writing competition in partnership with Cambridge University for stories of up to 1,000 words by authors aged 14-18. Five shortlisted stories are broadcast on the BBC with the writers attending a creative workshop and award ceremony broadcast live on Radio 4’s Front Row. The award is run annually with submission information on the Radio 1 website.
BBC National Short Story Award
Short story award for established authors worth £15,000. The award is for a single story of up to 8,000 words. Submissions open annually with information available on the BBC National Short Story Award website.
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