The guidance, exposure, support and inspiration BBC Writersroom has offered so far has been nothing short of fantastic. The sandwiches on the other hand have been quite variable...
BBC Writersroom's Comedy Room was a 1-year development scheme for writers identified through our open submission script room and other talent searches.
There were normally between 15 and 20 writers or writing pairs on the Comedy Room. They met around once a month for six months and received targeted training and development including workshops (with practical writing exercises), masterclasses, introductions and networking events, and writing briefs with the opportunity to pitch. Following this they received the support of a Script Editor for a further 6 months to develop their original spec' script.
The aim of the scheme was to encourage and develop the best in new comedy writing and to give these writers the opportunity to build strong connections with producers and help them gain BBC broadcast commissions.
BBC Comedy
From 2021, Comedy writer, writer/performer, director and producer development is looked after by BBC Comedy Commissioning, which brings together all comedy outreach that is happening across the BBC under one strategy.
The separate Caroline Aherne Bursary, Felix Dexter Bursary and Galton & Simpson Bursary for writers have been brought together with two new bursaries for directors and producers into the BBC Comedy Collective, a supercharged bursary scheme offering 10 places each year to up-and-coming writers, producers and directors who’d like to develop their careers in scripted comedy.
Find out more about the BBC Comedy Collective leaders and alumni
We will no longer open a window specifically for Comedy script submissions or run further Comedy Room writer development groups via BBC Writers.
Interested in breaking into Comedy?
Visit the BBC Comedy Commissioning website to find out about more opportunities
Latest from the Comedy Room
We received 3590 scripts in our last open submission Comedy Script Room window which closed on 20th April 2020. Meet the 19 writers in our Comedy Room writer development group for 2020/21 below.
Comedy Room 2020
There are 19 writers in our Comedy Room writer development group for 2020/21 including one writing pair.
- Clare Plested, a character comedian and improviser, originally from Watford.
- Peter E Davidson, a comedian from Derry.
- Alice Donnell, originally from Portsmouth.
- Paul Gilmore, an actor originally from Liverpool.
- Natasha Mwansa, a director from London.
- Richard Pask, a filmmaker from Cardiff.
- Paolo Chianta, is a Scot based in London.
- Lizzy Mansfield, a director from Newcastle.
- Charlie Dinkin, a comedian, producer and director based in London.
- Chris Anastasi, an actor from originally from Derbyshire.
- Chirag Upadhyay, from London.
- Nathan Foad, a comedian originally from Newark-on-Trent.
- Atlanta Green, a playwright from South West London.
- Thom Phipps, from Surrey
- Christy White-Spunner, a comedian from London.
- Tonya Joy Bolton a playwright and performer from Birmingham.
- Matthew Elliott, a producer and presenter from Bath.
- Eoin McAndrew, a playwright and actor from Northern Ireland.
- Molly McGuinness, a comedian from Salford.
The Comedy Room in Lockdown
Chris Anastasi on how the group have embraced the virtual world.
Comedy Room 2019
We received 2728 scripts in our Comedy Script Room window which closed in April 2019. Following the reading process the Comedy Room group 2019 met for their first session in September 2019.
There are sixteen writers (including one writing pair) in the Comedy Room for 2019.
- Radhika Sanghani
- Ravi Chand
- Katie Bonna
- Chris Cockerham
- Amy Xander
- Helen Parkinson
- John Hickman and Stephen Robertson
- Claire Rammelkamp
- Zara Janjua
- Athena Kugblenu
- Bexie Archer
- Emma Moran
- Robert Darke
- Catherine Dyson
- Eva Scott
Kicking off Comedy Room 2019
Our 2019 Comedy Room writer development scheme kicked off in the autumn. We caught up with John Hickman and Stephen Robertson, a writing duo who are part of this year's Room, to find out how things went on Day One.
The Comedy Room Day Two: Generating Ideas, Writing to a Brief and Pitching
Amy Xander is part of our Comedy Room writer development group. She gives us an insider's take on Day Two of the Comedy Room workshops, which covered generating ideas, writing to a brief and pitching.
The Comedy Room - Children's Day and an opportunity to pitch to Radio Drama North
Helen Parkinson is part of our Comedy Room writer development group. She gives a rundown on the group's recent two-day workshop at Media City in Salford which covered writing for Children's plus an opportunity to pitch a short Radio Drama.
The Felix Dexter Bursary
Comedy Room 2019 member Athena Kugblenu has been announced as the latest recipient of the Felix Dexter Bursary. Congratulations Athena!
Comedy Room 2018
The 15 writers in our Comedy Room group for 2018 (including writing pairs) were:
- Jeffrey Aidoo
- John & Dominic Reynolds
- Willow Mirza
- Omar Parvaz
- Emma Levin
- Sonia Jalaly
- Mark Salmon
- Carol Walsh
- Sion Edwards
- Alys Metcalf & Roxy Dunn
- Lynda Kennedy
- Chris Cantrill & Amy Gledhill
They met for monthly sessions, including TV comedy, Children’s and Radio Comedy with their final session taking place in March 2019. Find out more from the group by reading their blog posts below.
Comedy Room Day Two
Omar Parvaz was one of the 15 writers in our Comedy Room writer development group for 2018/19. He describes their second development day, with a focus on TV comedy writing for sitcom.
Comedy Room Children's Day
Chris Cantrill is one half of sketch comedy double-act The Delightful Sausage and part of our Comedy Room writer development group for 2018/19. He attended our introduction to Children's day at Media City in Salford, run in conjunction with the Drama Room development group.
Comedy Room January 2019
Mark Salmon was part of Comedy Room, our Comedy Writers' development group for 2018/19. He describes their sessions with the BBC Childrens department, with lots of great advice, including why you should learn to embrace your insecurities.
How Comedy Room led to writing for Topical Comedy shows
Jeffrey Aidoo was part of our Comedy Room writer development group for 2018/19. He explains how gaining a place in the group via our open script submission system has led on to him being a member of the writers' room for Radio topical comedy shows including Newsjack and The Now Show.
Caroline Aherne Bursary
We're delighted that Amy Gledhill, who was part of our Comedy Room for 2018/19, was also the recipient of the Caroline Aherne Bursary, named in honour of the late award-winning comedy writer and performer
Comedy Room 2017
The 14 writers are:
- Beth Granville
- Jonny Addy
- Kate Elmer
- Kevin Curtis
- Kulvinder Gill
- Laura Kirwan-Ashman
- Mariama Ives-Moiba
- Sammy Wong
- Shane Todd
- Stephen Large
- Steve Lawrence
- Stewart Thomson
- Ian Skelton
- Dan Evans
The 2017 Comedy Room group met for their first session in September 2017. October's session concentrated on sitcom (including analysing an episode of Not Going Out) and November's focus was CBBC and CBeebies. In January 2018 they had a session including advice on writing for digital platforms and pitched ideas for Valentine's Day sketches on the BBC's social media platforms (3 of which were made - watch now). They met for their last session in February 2018 and went on to have script-editing support on their sitcom scripts.
Kicking off Comedy Room 2017
Our third Comedy Room began in September 2017 with a great line-up of speakers including Grainne Maguire, Andrew Ellard, Lydia Hampson, Joe Tucker, Nerys Evans, Gareth Edwards, Nish Kumar and Nathan Caton. Find out more.
A Day with CBBC & CBeebies
Kulvinder Gill explains his journey to being part of the Comedy Room 2017 and shares tips and advice picked up during our day finding out about writing for BBC children's shows on CBBC and CBeebies.
Top Tips from the Comedy Room
Jonny Addy reports back following January's session, with guest speakers including Steve Pemberton.
Valentine's Day Sketch Success
Comedy Room writers pitched scripts for Valentine's Day and 3 were made and published on the BBC's social media (including BBC Comedy, BBC One and BBC Two), racking up over half a million views! Watch now.
Why you should enter your Comedy Script - in 5 inspirational quotes
Class of 2017 member Stephen Large sums up his Comedy-writing journey, and why you should enter your script.
Comedy Room 2016
The 18 writers were:
- Amanda Murphy
- Asif Khan
- Asmara Gabrielle
- Bryce Hart
- Carla Manfredino
- Claire Wetton
- Jack Carroll
- James Ashford & Jethro Thompson (writing duo)
- Katie Redford & James Farmer (writing duo)
- Louise Conran
- Matt Price
- Salim Allybokus
- Sindhu Vee
- Natasha Marshall
- Vicci Moyles
- Karen Reed
Our second Comedy Room scheme, Comedy Room 2016, kicked off in November 2016 with 2 days of workshops including a meet and greet, a joke workshop, a session on writing great openings and a day of advice from comedy script guru Andrew Ellard (scriptwriter and script editor for shows including the IT Crowd, Miranda, Red Dwarf and Count Arthur Strong).
Subsequent sessions included a day in Salford on writing for Children's TV with guest speakers from both CBeebies and CBBC and kids' shows Danger Mouse, the 4 o'clock club, Class Dismissed and Diddy TV. In February 2017 we turned to writing for Radio with advice from commissioners, producers and writers from shows including Cabin Pressure and Newsjack and two specific briefs from BBC One snapchat and BBC Music Day monologues.
The fourth session covered sitcom and online with speakers including Paul Kerensa (co-writer of Not Going Out) and Lilah Vandenburgh (Uncle).
"How on earth are you going to make that funny?"
Lou Conran told the story of the loss of her baby at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe. She explains how comedy can be the best medium to share and relate to tragedy.
Edinburgh Fringe 2017
Tash Marshall took her play Half Breed to the 2017 Fringe to great reviews. She blogged for us about why the Edinburgh Fringe is such a great place for writers.
Newsjack
Claire Wetton was one of the commissioned writers in the Newsjack writers' room for the last series of the topical sketch show. She explains what happened.
Class Dismissed
Claire Wetton and Bryce Hart from our 2016 Comedy Room were both successful in our recent Class Dismissed sketch writing opportunity for CBBC.
Music Day Monologues
Salim Allybokus from our 2016 Comedy Room was commissioned to write a monologue celebrating the power of music for BBC Music Day 2017. Find out more and listen to his monologue 'The Boxer's Epiphany' now.
Inside the Comedy Room with Katie Redford
Katie Redford gives an insight into what happens behind those hallowed Comedy Room doors...
Comedy Room 2015
Our first Comedy Room group began in October 2015 following our open submission comedy script window earlier in the year. There were 17 writers on the scheme including two writing pairs:
- Christine Robertson
- Paul Parncutt
- Laurence Tratalos
- Tez Ilyas
- Ryan Grant
- Sally Stott
- Lolly Adefope
- Samuel de Ceccatty & Stuart Benson
- Mat Rees & Joanne Lau
- Michael Beck
- Lee Coan
- Shai Hussain
- Shazad Mohammed
- Patrick Coyle
- Tracy Brabin
Getting Your Comedy Script Ready to Submit
By writer and script-reader Robin Taylor.
10 Reasons Why You Should Enter Your Script in the BBC Writersroom's Comedy Window
By Lynda Kennedy, who was in the 2018 Comedy Room development group.
Comedy Script Room - Top tips and advice
From our former Belfast-based Development Producer Keith Martin.On the blog
The script readers share some great advice on which scripts make it through.
