Drama, in comedy

Many of our best and most-loved sitcoms feature dramatic moments. Only Fools And Horses, One Foot In The Grave, Gavin & Stacey, Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, The Royle Family and many other popular programmes have become famous for their moving, shocking, or tear-inducing moments. Indeed, drama in sitcom is not an oxymoron; most great sitcoms have a robust dramatic underpinning.

For new writers particularly, it can be difficult to master the use of drama and subtext in scripts and ideas. Darker moments can feel shoehorned in or jarringly bleak. But, when used well, dramatic depth...