British Comedy Guide

Sketch Writing: Top Tips for Your Final Punchline

That Mitchell And Webb Look. Image shows from L to R: Robert Webb, David Mitchell. Copyright: BBC

It is a truth universally acknowledged among sketch writers, script editors and producers alike that, when it comes to comedy sketches, the final punchline is by far the hardest element to get right. So, what can we do to avoid the many traps and pitfalls of punchline-crafting, thus making sure our writing stands out as professional, consistent and, of course, hilarious?

Here, we break down some top tips on how to produce the perfect punchline...

1. 'Surprising yet inevitable'

A bit of a catch-all tip to kick us off, but a general rule of thumb for a sketch comedy punchline...

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Published: Monday 7th June 2021

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