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.
