Sitcom Geeks
A podcast series for those interested in the mechanics of situation comedy. James Cary and Dave Cohen discuss the art of sitcom writing for TV and Radio.
Episode 88 - Geoffrey McGivern
Published: 13th September 2018. Length: 42 mins. Size: 58.2mb
Dave and James talk to the brilliant character actor from both Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and Blackadder, Geoffrey McGivern. He has many years of experience, reading and performing the scripts that writers sweat over and has gathered many many anecdotes along the way.
Previous episodes
Episode 87 - Is Bake Off A Sitcom?
30th August 2018. 54 minutes.
Dave and James back from the summer with lots to report including the return of Newsjack, the great audience sitcom revival part 897 and several attempts to answer the impossible...
Episode 86 - Saskia Schuster
16th August 2018. 45 minutes.
Dave and James have a strangely therapeutic conversation with Saskia Schuster, Controller of Comedy at ITV; about how sitcoms get on to ITV and the agony of turning shows down....
Episode 85 - Jonathan Ames
2nd August 2018. 52 minutes.
James talks down the line to top US comedy writer and novelist Jonathan Ames about the hilarious HBO series Bored To Death, being championed by David Letterman and... Are You...
Episode 84 - Hayley McKenzie
19th July 2018. 48 minutes.
"My job isn't to tell the writer how to be better, my job is to help them figure out what they want to write." Plenty of excellent advice for ALL...
Episode 83 - Lucien Young
5th July 2018. 54 minutes.
An interview with comedy writer Lucien Young (Siblings, Murder In Successville, Alice In Brexitland) about all things comedic, including the spec Frasier script he wrote aged 11. Back his Shakespearean...
Episode 82 - Laurence Howarth
21st June 2018. 45 minutes.
Dave and James chat to comedy writer, and performer, Laurence Howarth. He talks about writing the controversial Tracey Ullman Corbyn sketches, a sitcom about arms dealers, and how Dead Ringers...
Episode 81 - Dave Cohen Craft of Comedy Keynote Address
18th June 2018. 26 minutes.
Dave Cohen flies the flag for studio sitcoms at the Craft of Comedy 2018 in Llandudno. He also invents a new word that might make you feel ill. Introduced by...
Episode 80 - Jack Docherty
14th June 2018. 62 minutes.
A fascinating hour spent in the company of the multi-talented writer-performer-producer and all round good guy who was one of the main creators behind Mr Don And Mr George, The...
Episode 79 - Paul Merton (Part 2)
31st May 2018. 45 minutes.
Dave and James discuss the magic of Tony Hancock and Steptoe And Son with Paul Merton, who talks about his great friendship with the brilliant creators of both those shows,...
Episode 78 - Paul Merton (Part 1)
17th May 2018. 29 minutes.
Dave and James talk to Paul Merton - one of Britain's comedy superstars - about silent movies, class, and his phenomenal 30 years at the top of the profession.
Episode 77 - John Finnemore (Part 2)
3rd May 2018. 28 minutes.
We're back with more John Finnemore talking about his Souvenir Programme, Mummo in Cabin Pressure and basking sharks. Recorded at the Bill Murray in Angel, Islington.
Episode 76 - John Finnemore (Part 1)
19th April 2018. 27 minutes.
James and Dave talk to John Finnemore about Double Acts, Cabin Pressure and the Souvenir Programme at a live event and Patreon subscriber meet-up at the Bill Murray in Angel...
Episode 75 - Words For Window
5th April 2018. 42 minutes.
Just over a week to go before the BBC Writersroom Comedy window closes - still time (just) to craft your own comedy gold, with the help of James and Dave's...
Episode 74 - Craft Of Comedy Cometh
29th March 2018. 45 minutes.
Steve Doherty talks to James and Dave about Llandudno Craft Of Comedy Festival in June - an amazing line-up, competitions to win and loads of good reasons why you'd be...
Episode 73 - Writing Windows and Open Doors
15th March 2018. 58 minutes.
Attention new writers! The BBC Comedy Script Window opens on 19 March 2018. Here's tonnes of useful writing tips from the people who'll be reading your scripts - Simon Nelson...
Episode 72 - Toby Davies (Part 2)
8th March 2018. 33 minutes.
James and Dave talk to Toby Davies about how one sketch can get you a movie. Seriously. Toby talks us through the multiple drafts needed to get Up All Night...
Episode 71 - Toby Davies (Part 1)
22nd February 2018. 38 minutes.
Toby Davies, the prolific comedy writer for kids' TV and now with a movie to his name, talks sketch writing, working with the biggest names in comedy and modestly reveals...
Episode 70 - Inside Newsjack (Part 2)
8th February 2018. 43 minutes.
James and Dave talk to brilliant Newsjack host Angela Barnes about how she approaches writing - and what you can do to improve your chances of getting jokes and sketches...
Episode 69 - Inside Newsjack (Part 1)
1st February 2018. 52 minutes.
How do you get material on to the BBC's main show for new writers? Dave and James talk to producer Adnan Ahmed and writers Laura Major and Mike Shephard about...
Episode 68 - How Many Is Too Many?
25th January 2018. 37 minutes.
Bonus episode! James and Dave with updated writing tips for 2018, plus answers to your questions about working with a partner and how many episodes is the right number.
Contact Us
Email questions to sitcomgeeks@gmail.com
Biographies
James Cary is a comedy writer for BBC TV and Radio. His latest series is Bluestone 42 for BBC Three, which he co-created and wrote with Richard Hurst. He met Richard working on Series 1 & 2 of BBC's award-winning sitcom, Miranda. James has also written episodes of My Hero and My Family for BBC One. His radio credits include three series of Hut 33, four series of Think the Unthinkable, and sketch show, Concrete Cow. He has also written four series of Another Case Of Milton Jones with, er, Milton Jones for BBC Radio 4. sitcomgeek.blogspot.co.uk @sitcomgeek
Dave Cohen, a Perrier nominee in a previous century, was a founder member of the Comedy Store Players. In recent years he has become more known as a comedy writer, having written for Have I Got News For You and Not Going Out, and as a comic songwriter, co-creating the Radio 4 hit 15 Minute Musical and writing loads of songs for the hit BBC Childrens' Show Horrible Histories and ITV's Newzoids. His book How to be Averagely Successful at Comedy was published in 2013. davecohen.org.uk @cohendave
Theme music: Jane Watkins