Make It - Advice & Insight for Performers & Writers

This area of our website is for aspiring comedy writers and performers. Here you'll find news of opportunities, plus advice & insight. We haven't fully launched it yet - when we have there'll be lots of 'how to' articles and directories of courses and the likes here too.

Competition: Get a topical sketch animated

Competition: Get a topical sketch animated

Published 26th April

Have you written a good topical sketch? Would you like to see it animated? If so, you should enter this competition. Read

Write a play for Futurespark Festival

Write a play for Futurespark Festival

Published 26th April

Futurespark, a Luton-based festival that is aiming to showcase emerging new writing talent, is looking for 10 minutes plays. Read

BAFTA launches 2013 comedy writing contest

BAFTA launches 2013 comedy writing contest

Published 7th April

The BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum is now open for entries. Winners will receive a package that includes their script being performed at a major television festival. Read

Contest looking for funny books for children open for entries

Contest looking for funny books for children open for entries

Published 8th March

Following a very successful first year, the Greenhouse Funny Prize is back. The competition is looking for writers and/or illustrators who can create funny books aimed at children. Read

Deadline alert: Sitcom Mission and Sitcom Trials 2013

Deadline alert: Sitcom Mission and Sitcom Trials 2013

Published 8th March

You've got till the 31st March to enter The Sitcom Mission and The Sitcom Trials 2013 comedy writing contests. Read

BBC Radio launches show that anyone can write for

BBC Radio launches show that anyone can write for

Published 5th February

BBC Radio 4 has announced The Show What You Wrote, a new sketch series that anyone can write for. Read

The Sitcom Mission 2013

The Sitcom Mission 2013

Published 25th January

Entries are now open for The Sitcom Mission 2013 - the comedy writing contest backed by the BCG. The deadline is the 31st March - so get writing! Read

Want to be on Live At The Electric?

Want to be on Live At The Electric?

Published 23rd January

Are you a sketch group or a character comedian? If so, do you want to appear on BBC Three series Live At The Electric? Find out here how to apply. Read

Amused Moose Laugh Off 2013 stand-up contest: entry form

Amused Moose Laugh Off 2013 stand-up contest: entry form

Published December 2012

The entry form for the Amused Moose Laugh Off 2013 stand-up contest is now available. The heats begin in February, with the final during the Edinburgh Fringe in August. Read

Five things film-makers can learn from Kickstarter

Five things film-makers can learn from Kickstarter

Published December 2012

Five things film-makers can learn from the website Kickstarter (and vice versa), written by a director who is approaching the end of his own crowd-funding campaign. Read

Article Archive

External Articles

I managed to meet one of my comedy heroes - Laurence Marks. I was heartened by something he said. He said they would usually spend at least 75% of their time planning an episode before writing the script.

James Cary, 20th May 2013

Questions asked by first time performers in Edinburgh.

Written by John Fleming. 15th May 2013

Bafta competition winner Kayleigh Llewellyn shares her advice.

Written by Kayleigh Llewellyn. Chortle, 13th May 2013

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow is looking for more popular broad comedies in the pre-watershed slot, following the departure of Miranda to BBC One.

BBC Ariel, 9th May 2013

Channel 4 Marketing are throwing down the challenge of designing on-air stings for E4; creative juices and weird and wonderful ideas at the ready as 'E Stings' returns.

Channel 4 Press, 30th April 2013

One of the handiest screenwriting tips I've ever encountered is a quote from Russell T Davies in a book about the making of Doctor Who. "Dialogue is just two monologues clashing".

Written by Charlie Brooker. The Guardian, 29th April 2013

Are you able to devise and produce the next comedy hit? BBC Radio Comedy is looking for a creative person who will develop their own breakthrough comedy shows as well as work on an extensive range of existing comedy output.

BBC Jobs, 16th April 2013

Michael Frayn and Howard Jacobson have been shortlisted for an award celebrating the year's funniest novels.

BBC News, 4th April 2013

As the Welsh Unsigned Stand-Up Award (WUSA) launches its search for the best new comics in Wales tonight, Dave Owens speaks to last year's winner Jordan Brookes about how he's spent his year since scooping the title.

Written by David Owens. South Wales Echo, 18th March 2013

Colin Anderson talks about his job. He says that firstly, you must have a love of comedy. It's no use being 'an awesome radio producer' without those basic comedy credentials.

BBC Writersroom, 10th March 2013

Coming Soon...

Later this year we will fully launch our 'Make It' area. Here's what else you can expect:

  • Advice and insight on sitcom writing, sketch comedy, satire, gag writing, performing (stand-up / acting), producing and directing from top experts.

  • A directory of courses and workshops.

  • Recommended books.

  • Discounted consultation services.

  • A big collection of links to additional interesting articles and useful websites that can be found elsewhere on the internet.

  • And a special new exciting project exclusive to this website which we hope will help new writers get their material broadcast. It will be open to all and free to get involved!

See Also:

Newsletter

'Make It' Newsletter

Sign up to our email newsletter to get writing & performing news, tips, etc.

Forums

Message Board: Writers

A forum for comedy writers. Loads of discussion and tips, plus opportunities.

Forums

Message Board: Performers

A forum for stand-up comedians and actors to discuss the industry.

Forums

Message Board: Critique

Got a script or sketch idea? Get honest feedback on it from contemporaries here.

Forums

Message Board: Showcase

Made something funny? Show it off and get it seen via our 'Showcase' forum.

The Sitcom Mission

The Sitcom Mission

An annual comedy writing competition we're involved in. The top prize is £5000!

Company

Production Companies

A list of production companies - use this to look for someone to make your thing.

Writers

Old Writers Area

There's some archive insight and 'how to' articles in our old sitcom writing area.

The British Film Collection

The British Film Collection

A look at the impresive Spring & Summer 2013 comedy titles from The British Film DVD collection. Read

Mock The Week - Series 12

Mock The Week - Series 12

Mock The Week will be back in June - and will now be filmed in HD. Here's details on what to expect. Read

Video: Mr Nazi

Video: Mr Nazi

Did you used to read the Mr Men books? If so, do you remember the adventures of bad Mr Nazi? Watch

Video: Bad Date

Video: Bad Date

A BBC Comedy sketch. Ever been on a bad date? Ever dated a dog? This committed Christian has... Watch

Father Ted - Every Drink

Father Ted - Every Drink

A video featuring every utterance of the word 'drink' in Father Ted. Try and keep count - it's hard! Watch

Galton & Simpson honoured

Galton & Simpson honoured

Celebrated writing duo Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are to be honoured with a blue plaque unveiling in June. Read

Look Of Love interviews

Look Of Love interviews

A video of the cast of The Look Of Love, including star Steve Coogan, talking about the new Soho-set film. Watch

What We Did On Our Holiday

What We Did On Our Holiday

Billy Connolly and Ben Miller are amongst the cast for the new film by the writers of Outnumbered. Read

Some Girls - Series 2

Some Girls - Series 2

A second series of BBC Three sitcom Some Girls is now being filmed. Find out what is in store here: Read

Jessie Cave's book club

Jessie Cave's book club

Unique performance comedian Jessie Cave provides a guide to how to host a book club. Well, sort of. Read

Lee Evans Monsters tour

Lee Evans Monsters tour

Lee Evans has announced Monsters, a 51 date arena tour which will kick off in August 2014. More info here: Read

Paul Abbott's new show

Paul Abbott's new show

Channel 4 has commissioned No Offence, a Victorian police comedy from Shameless creator Paul Abbott. Read

Fresh Meat - Series 3

Fresh Meat - Series 3

More information on the 3rd series of Channel 4's uni comedy Fresh Meat, which begins filming in June. Read

Watson & Oliver: Eurovision

Watson & Oliver: Eurovision

Watson & Oliver have a last minute song entry for the Eurovision song contest. Here's the video: Watch

Horrible Histories new film

Horrible Histories new film

The cast of Horrible Histories are going to star in Bill, a new comedy film about William Shakespeare. Read

David Brent on YouTube

David Brent on YouTube

Ricky Gervais is creating a series of online videos for YouTube called Learn Guitar With David Brent. Read

Dawson Bros Funtime award

Dawson Bros Funtime award

Dawson Bros. Funtime, the BBC Three sketch show pilot, is now up for an international award. Read

Craig Campbell on iTunes

Craig Campbell on iTunes

Craig Campbell's new stand-up show is being released on iTunes. Find out more and see a preview clip. Read

See Also:

Newsletter

'Make It' Newsletter

Sign up to our email newsletter to get writing & performing news, tips, etc.

Forums

Message Board: Writers

A forum for comedy writers. Loads of discussion and tips, plus opportunities.

Forums

Message Board: Performers

A forum for stand-up comedians and actors to discuss the industry.

Forums

Message Board: Critique

Got a script or sketch idea? Get honest feedback on it from contemporaries here.

Forums

Message Board: Showcase

Made something funny? Show it off and get it seen via our 'Showcase' forum.

The Sitcom Mission

The Sitcom Mission

An annual comedy writing competition we're involved in. The top prize is £5000!

Company

Production Companies

A list of production companies - use this to look for someone to make your thing.

Writers

Old Writers Area

There's some archive insight and 'how to' articles in our old sitcom writing area.