BCG Pro Newsletter

BCG Pro Talent Awards: Performance

Yes, the (delayed) 2020 Performance Award final takes place tonight (Friday 17th) at the Museum of Comedy (London), hosted by Felicity Ward. It's not too late to get tickets and join us. If you are attending, please press reply to this email and let us know you're coming - we (Aaron and Mark) would love to say hello!

The deadline to enter the 2021 competition (which will have a final in early 2022) is the end of October. To enter, you just need to send us a video. Details.

BCG Pro Sessions - Kirstie Swain on 7th October

We're excited to reveal that the next guest for our Zoom-based live Q&A feature will be Kirstie Swain, on Thursday 7th October at 7pm. The creator of Channel 4's comedy drama Pure, and the writer of forthcoming Sky series Sweatpea, Kirstie's latest sitcom pilot is Ladybaby (see it on iPlayer now). Join us to ask her questions about writing, TV development, and more.

Opportunities Hub

Head to Opportunities Hub for the latest events, jobs, competitions and collaboration requests. One such listing explains how to submit sketches to the next series of The Treason TV Show - which will be on Freeview, YouTube and live on stage in Brighton.

Networking: Manchester in November with Phil Mealey

In our last newsletter we revealed we'll be holding our first social event in Manchester in November (with more events to then follow in 2022, in other cities around the UK). Thank you to those who responded with venue suggestions - we're following up on those leads and hope to confirm the date in our next newsletter. In the meantime, we're pleased to reveal that Phil Mealey will be joining us for the evening, giving a short talk about comedy writing. Co-founder of production company Jellylegs, Phil's writing and performing credits include Early Doors, The Royle Family and Sunshine.

Why you should blog

Blogging may have faded in popularity in recent years... but publishing a blog is still a brilliant thing for a comedy writer to do. Check out this latest article from us, and we'll explain why.

Sky Comedy REP 2021 confirms selected writers

Sky Comedy REP has announced the eleven comedy writers who have been selected to take part in their six-month paid programme of workshops and mentoring.

My Comedy Career: James Gill

Writer and stand-up comedian James Gill has been fronting the award-winning Always Be Comedy shows for 10 years now. We caught up with him to find out how he got into comedy, and how he is currently navigating the industry.

Cultural Comedy Tours - Diary of a performer/producer

Daniel Nicholas shares his diary entries as he prepares to put on a Cultural Comedy Tours show. It's an insight into planning for a gig.

Video Contest

Holly Hall is the latest winner of our monthly contest that aims to un-earth the best short videos - check out her topical entry. As well as the cash prize, British Comedy Guide supports the winner by sharing the video across its various platforms. If you have made something yourself (it doesn't have to be topical, or even new) do enter your video.

Andrew Chaplin on directing Alma's Not Normal

Andrew Chaplin, the director of Alma's Not Normal (Sophie Willan's sitcom, currently airing on BBC Two on Mondays), explains the process of bringing the comedy to screen.

Online comedy courses

For the latest writing and performing courses, see our directory, where all BCG Pro members get a discount. Excitingly, after eighteen months of listing online courses we now have our first real-life, in-person offering to add to the mix: Chris Head's stand-up course (for beginners and intermediates) starts in London on 25th October.

BlackBook

Members on our main subscription plan can access our exclusive BlackBook database at any time. Listing all TV and radio production companies that make comedy, it allows you to dig down for plenty more information about each - we're constantly adding personnel lists, contact details and all their latest projects.

Sitcom Geeks

In the latest podcast - number 174, for those keeping count - comedy writing teachers Chris Head and Kay Stonham join Dave and James to offer some tips, and discuss various interesting topics.

BCG Pro Gag-a-Week competition

We've been loving all the jokes you've been submitting, please keep them coming! Sadly there can only be one winner each week from all the good submissions... but we hope, even if you're not selected, you find it a fun weekly challenge. This time we want you to focus a laugh line around the topic of musicals.

Digital Puppets - Virtual Comedian

A final reminder that the deadline to apply to this opportunity, exclusive to BCG Pro members, is the end of this month. It's an ideal project for someone who is good at writing stand-up jokes but has no desire to get on stage themselves, or a writer-performer who wants to try something new. Click through for the full details - the video explainer is well worth watching.