BBC Radio Comedy Writers Bursary explained

The BBC Radio Comedy Writers' Bursary (or the BBC Radio Comedy Department Contract Writer) is a scheme through which emerging comedy writers work in-house at the BBC Radio Comedy department for a year.

History

The scheme, which was originally known as the Peter Titheradge Award,[1] began in 1978 and was devised by the then-head of Head of BBC Light Entertainment (Radio), David Hatch, and BBC Television's Head of Light Entertainment, James Gilbert. Each department put £5000 a year into a kitty to employ three young writers on a one-year contract. The only proviso was that there was to be no contract for a second year, and that the writers must then fend for themselves.[2] The first beneficiaries were Rory McGrath, Jimmy Mulville and Guy Jenkin, who were followed by Rob Grant, Doug Naylor (Red Dwarf).[3] Since then, the scheme has helped several aspiring or part-time writers to go full-time and has produced a great number of professional writers and comedians, including John O'Farrell, Peter Baynham, Stewart Lee and Simon Blackwell (The Thick Of It, Veep).[4] [5]

Duties of recipients

Under the current regime, those selected for the bursary work on BBC Radio 4's three high-profile topical shows; The News Quiz, The Now Show and Dead Ringers, contribute writing across the range of the BBC Radio Comedy Department's output[6] as well as script-editing sketch-shows and sitcoms. Bursary recipients are also encouraged to develop new formats and create their own shows.[7]

List of recipients

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BBC Studios celebrates 40 years of the Radio Comedy Writer’s Bursary and announces new recipients. www.bbc.co.uk. 2024-10-01.
  2. Book: Took, Barry. Laughter In The Air. Robson Books. 1981. 0 86051 149 9. London. 175.
  3. Web site: Biography 2. www.robgrant.co.uk. 2015-12-21.
  4. Web site: Sarah Campbell and Liam Beirne new BBC Radio Contract Writers - Make It - British Comedy Guide. www.comedy.co.uk. 2015-12-21.
  5. Web site: Danielle Ward. Such Small Portions. 2015-12-21.
  6. Web site: Don’t mind your Ps & Qs: Gareth Gwynn. walesonline. Western Mail. 2015-12-21.
  7. Web site: Radio Comedy Staff Writer Jobs and careers with BBC. careerssearch.bbc.co.uk. 2015-12-21.
  8. Web site: Radio Comedy Staff Writer Jobs and careers with BBC. edmorrish.tumblr.com. 2015-12-21.
  9. Web site: BBC Studios Audio adds new comedy Contract Writers and producers . www.bbc.co.uk . en.
  10. Web site: Christina Riggs & Peter Tellouche are BBC Studios' 2024 staff writers . www.bbc.co.uk . en.

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