Channel 4 looks for new Blaps and Comedy Digital Originals

To coincide with the 10-year anniversary of Blaps, Channel 4 has released new comedy briefs for its digital and short form comedy offerings.

Comedy Blaps

In the first brief issued today, Channel 4 says it is on the hunt for "a slice of new scripted comedy heaven in the shape of at least four new Blaps".

This year the onus is on writer-performers or writer-directors.

The network says: "Ideas that put disability representation at the fore and those that showcase characters and precincts from the Nations & Regions would also be of particular interest.

"For the last 10 years C4 Blaps have backed the best up and coming talent - on and off screen - to create original, innovative, and brilliant new scripted comedy. All with the potential to join the Channel 4 comedy family and follow in the footsteps of the likes of triple BAFTA winning Stath Lets Flats, Chewing Gum, Maxxx, Lee And Dean, GameFace, Dead Pixels, Home and the imminent We Are Lady Parts.

Fiona McDermott, head of comedy at Channel 4, says: "After the year it's been, it's wonderful to say that we're officially open and commissioning for Comedy Blaps 2021. We're so proud of the extraordinary and diverse talent these shorts have enabled us to back over the last 10 years. With original comedy such a stronghold for C4, the three Baftas won this year for Blaps alumni, Stath Lets Flats, are proof they play an important role in creating lasting comedy careers. We're excited to see what this year brings."

The call out is being managed by comedy commissioning executives Laura Riseam and Joe Hullait. The deadline for submissions is 31st July 2021.

Channel 4 is only accepting submissions for its Blaps strand from PACT registered production companies, so independent creators will need to team up with an existing company to pitch.

The full brief, with further information and instructions on how to submit, can be found at channel4.com/commissioning

Comedy Digital Originals

The second brief focuses on how, for Channel 4, "Comedy is a proven success on social."

The channel says: "The call is for the next wave of great comedy talent and innovative ideas across social and digital platforms, that could grow into mainstays.

"These digital native ideas will have to work on C4 and E4's social platforms and can be anything from single pilots up to six episode runs, dependent on the idea.

"The channel is keen to receive ideas that build characters or worlds that could grow and develop with long-running potential, or independently watchable comedy ents formats that could be repeated in higher volume.

"That also means new talent and new ways of delivering comedy beyond just standard short comedy sketches. Ideas should feel important to a young audience, be it challenging perceptions, representing unheard voices, or covering diversity and inclusion, sustainability, or the state of the nation. Other areas of interest include ideas that are experimental, or the next iteration of pranks, bitesize sitcoms, character formats, musical comedy or even comedians in unusual situations."

Karl Warner, Head of Youth and Digital at Channel 4, says: "Our short form comedy content has been a big hit on social and it's brilliant seeing so many new up-and-coming writers and performers from across the country cutting through with young audiences. With this new brief we really want build on that success with original ideas that surprise, entertain and above all, make our audiences laugh and share."

The call out is being led by digital commissioning executive Thomas Pullen and digital commissioner Laura Marks.

Those submitting ideas must be experienced at delivering digital video content, and thus independent creators without a track record or production resources should consider teaming up with an existing production company to pitch to the network.

The deadline for submissions is 4th June 2021 and the brief, with further information and instructions on how to submit, can also be found at channel4.com/commissioning