British Comedy Guide

Inside Track Library

This is the Inside Track library, in which we have collected up our features which have timeless insight and advice, and sorted them into categories. Use the filter to find articles on a topic you're interested in.

Mental Health

Mental health: how not to be crushed by creative career despair

  • Friday 3rd December 2021

As you already know on some level, the life of the comedian, comedy writer or producer/director necessarily comes with fabulous highs and lows. Here's some advice on how to deal with the lows.

Hancock's Half Hour Writing

Fine-tuning a gag and why it matters

  • Sunday 28th November 2021

Fine-tuning a joke is important because it can mean the difference between its success or failure, whether it "lands" and makes people laugh or not. It is also the difference between being a lazy hack and a real craftsperson of comedy. Here's some thoughts and tips on the topic...

Breaking The News. Lauren Mackay Writing

Breaking The News writing tips

  • Friday 29th October 2021

Breaking The News producer Lauren Mackay offers some tips on how to be successful writing for the topical comedy show.

Breaking The News. Image shows from L to R: Chris Quilietti, Des Clarke, Lauren Mackay, David Flynn Writing

Breaking The News: Behind-the-scenes on the topical comedy show

  • Friday 29th October 2021

We talk to the producers behind Breaking The News, the hit BBC Scotland topical radio and TV format that you can write for. Discover how they put the show together, and how to get involved.

Friends. Image shows from L to R: Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer Writing

How to Structure Sitcom Scenes

  • Friday 15th October 2021

Chris Head uses some excerpts from US comedy Friends to highlight the set-up / reveal / escalation / payoff structure of sitcom scenes.

Matt Forde Writing

The Stand-Up Tune-Up, No.5: Matt Forde on making political comedy work

  • Thursday 14th October 2021

Political material can be risky with live audiences, but Matt Forde manages to bridge the big political divides - we asked him how.

Kirstie Swain Writing

BCG Pro Sessions video: Kirstie Swain

  • Wednesday 13th October 2021

Kirstie Swain joined us on Zoom to answer questions about comedy writing. The chat included advice on forging a career as a writer, the highs and lows of TV development, and more. You can watch the 58 minute recording here.

Andrew Ellard Writing

Andrew Ellard on writing CBBC's Nova Jones

  • Tuesday 21st September 2021

Andrew Ellard talks us through how they wrote CBBC sci-fi comedy series Nova Jones.

Blog Writing

Why you should blog

  • Friday 10th September 2021

It's the twenty-first century... but publishing a blog is still a brilliant thing for a comedy writer to do. Here's why...

Boxing Gloves Writing

Punching Up vs Punching Down

  • Thursday 2nd September 2021

As a comedy writer or stand-up you may have heard the phrase "punch up, not down" or a variation thereof. It's an important comedy guideline that concerns both the ethics and funniness of your material.