Inside Track
The latest news and insight from the British comedy industry, with many exclusive features for BCG Pro members.
The Inside Track Library is full of timeless insight and advice. Why not find a topic?
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Comedy Virgins Max Turner Prize 2021 competition open
The Cavendish's Comedy Virgins Max Turner Prize is now open for 2021 entries.
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Deciphering Commissioner-Speak
Industry gatekeepers often speak in code. We take a look at what a commissioner really means when they ask 'why now?' and 'why you?'.
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BCG Pro is expanding in 2021
BCG Pro is expanding in 2021. Find out about our planned new functionality, extra content, Pitch Centre, and more.
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My Comedy Career: Andy Goddard
Producer and sound editor Andy Goddard has shared some really brilliant thoughts and advice within his answers to our My Comedy Career questions.
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Joel Morris and Neil Webster on comedy writing
An hour-long video featuring insight and advice from top comedy writers Joel Morris and Neil Webster. They discuss everything from starting out, to working with producers and taking notes.
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The Secret Reviewer #22: The Freaky Future
Every month our clandestine critic reveals the murky truths behind that infamous trade, and live comedy generally. This month: How are pundits supposed to predict anything this year?
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The 10 rules of sitcom writing
Freelance comedy producer and executive Alison Vernon-Smith talks us through the ten rules of sitcom.
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Tiger Aspect appoints David Simpson Head of Comedy
Tiger Aspect has appointed a new full-time head of comedy, David Simpson.
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BBC Studios hires Pete Strauss to audio comedy team
BBC Studios has hired Pete Strauss from Spirit Media to join its audio comedy team.
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BBC Comedy Association opportunities
A summary of the opportunities available via the newly formed BBC Comedy Association.
Library
Our archive of insight: interviews, advice and materials from those at the top. View all
Comedy writers Steven Dick and Chris Grady, the creators of radio sitcom Saddled, offer up some great tips on creating characters.
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From starting out as Jonathan Ross's tea boy to writing for Shooting Stars to becoming Head of Comedy Entertainment at UKTV, Iain Coyle details the unconventional and serendipitous road he took and how you can successfully pitch your comedy projects.
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Directors Ben and Chris Blaine discuss making Sara Pascoe's sitcom Out Of Her Mind. There's some great insight and advice in this interview.
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Jon Holmes's extraordinary Radio 4 show The Skewer is back - and, as he explains in this interview, he's always on the lookout for new ideas and new writers. This feature included details on what they're looking for, and how to submit.
ReadInteresting articles from other websites
Reinventing the sitcom
It's tempting to try and reinvent the sitcom. You are welcome to try. Far be it from me to stop you.
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 14th January 2021Interview with Big Talk CEO Kenton Allen
Big Talk Productions CEO Kenton Allen is typically straight when reflecting on 2020. "A disaster," he says, surveying the economic wreckage of Covid-19 over a Zoom call from his home in London last month. Like countless others, the pandemic has blown a huge hole in Big Talk's earnings and created unthinkable headaches for the company, which should have been celebrating a very healthy 12 months.
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13th January 2021What even is a sitcom these days?
If you're trying to write a sitcom, or get into sitcom writing, it's worth taking a step back to ask what you're getting into. What even is a sitcom?
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 12th January 2021If you wanna make it - make it
Last week we looked at topical comedy as one of the quickest ways to become a professional paid comedy writer. Unfortunately writing topical comedy is also one of the most exclusive comedy jobs.
Dave Cohen, Dave Cohen's Blog, 11th January 2021Richard Bacon devises comedy quiz
Richard Bacon has created a comedy quiz show, I Literally Just Told You, being piloted in the UK and the US.
Chortle, 10th January 2021Latest podcasts
Sitcom Geeks: Episode 157 - Rejection And Waste And Other Jolly News
Welcome to a new year of comedy writing, as Dave talks about writing topical comedy (hence the rejection and waste), James tries to enforce good habits for writers (other jolly...
Sitcom Geeks: Episode 156 - 2021 Vision
Dave and James reveal their plans for next year, including the launch of The Situation Room, home for James's brilliant new online sitcom writing masterclass. Meanwhile Dave will be finding...
ComComPod: Episode 359 - Aunty Donna (return)
Zach, Mark and Broden return to the podcast on one of the last stops of the campaign trail for their new Netflix special Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House Of Fun....
ComComPod: Episode 358 - Nigel Ng (return)
There's going viral, and then there's Uncle Roger. His MSG-loving, rice-reviewing, phone-case wearing archetypical Asian uncle character has seen Nigel Ng jump from 20, 000 to 2.8M YouTube subscribers during...
Sitcom Geeks: Episode 155 - So That Was 2020
Dave and James look back on the closed down year - what is comedy drama, scene competitions and a little shard of light and love for our fellow comedy scriptwriters....