DMs Are Open

• Opportunity
• Writing (Sketches)
• Writing (Gags)
• Free
• Opened 9th January 2025 / Closed 29th January 2025
• Website

The Radio 4 sketch show, which you are invited to submit to, returns for a fourth series in March. The weekly writing deadlines are currently taking place.

DMs Are Open - the sketch show you can write for - returns to Radio 4 on Wednesday 19th March.

There are writing deadlines across January, as follows. You'll have to write to the revealed themes during those windows. There will be two themes in each writing window, and you can submit one sketch for each of the themes.

Week 1: (Deadline was noon Wednesday 15 January): Help! & Secret

Week 2: (Deadline was noon Wednesday 22 January): Enemies & Holiday

Week 3 (active now): deadline to submit: noon Wednesday 29 January.

THEME 1: Late

THEME 2: Party

This series of DMs Are Open will remain non-topical. "We are looking for outlandish and ambitious sketches that are short and punchy, with a high gag rate."

The format will now also solely focus on scripted sketches. The producers say: "We want DMs Are Open to be packed full of your sketches and ideas, and for that reason we've decided to cut the notifications and voice notes. This way, we can take more of your sketches through to the recording and the broadcast show. The notifications and voices notes have been great features of the past couple of series of DMs Are Open, but we always think it's such a shame that we don't have room for more of your fantastic sketches, especially with a 15 minute run time. This time, more of your great sketches are going to make it to the radio, performed by our fantastic cast."

Format

The BBC explains:

We've got up to 5 performers to play with, but don't feel you have to use them all. Some of the best sketches could be two-handers or even monologues - if you approach them imaginatively.

Sketches can vary in length, but as a general rule - keep them short! No more than 3 pages in our template - but they can be much shorter. Make sure they display a clear idea, contain distinctive characters and have a beginning, middle and end. Keep the laughs coming throughout the sketch and think about how the comedy escalates. If your sketch feels like its outstayed its welcome, cut it down - get to the funny as quickly as possible, and end on a big laugh.

We want you to think big with your sketches - there's no idea too outlandish or silly. Have a think about how you can take your idea up a level. Does your sketch lean into a specific genre? Or demonstrate a distinctive style? How can you make it different from all the others? Is it loud, or quiet? Dramatic or mundane? Naturalistic or surreal? We're going to read a lot of sketches, so how is yours going to stand out? Without the voice notes and notifications this year, there's more time to focus on your writing - we'd like you to really hone your idea and polish your sketches before submitting.

Think about character. Why do the characters in your sketch make the situation particularly funny? And are there any characters you think are funny enough to come back each week? We have an incredible and experienced cast who would relish the chance to bring a brand new comedy character to radio.

Remember, your sketches are being performed in audio so really think about how you use sound. Through the magic of sound your sketches can take the audience absolutely anywhere! Think about how we experience sound in the modern world and the different media through which we communicate. How can the medium/format of your sketch make it even funnier? We don't need masses of stage directions, but where sound effects play a part in the comedy please make them clear. We can't have any commercial music as part of the show, so if you want music let us know what song you'd like and we can find a soundalike, or tell us a genre and we'll be able to find a great piece of library music to fit your sketch.