The BCG Pro Talent Award for Writing runs from May to July each year.

What is it?

We want to find and encourage the best new and upcoming comedy talent. In this competition, we're looking for those who write: particularly if you're solely a writer; but not excluding writer-performers. Challenge yourself with this contest and enter your best material for the consideration of our esteemed judging panel! The competition focuses on audio scripts - it's important to master writing without a visual element as radio is where the majority of commissions are available.

What can I win?

Aside from bragging rights, our shortlisted finalists will receive feedback from professionals and each will have one of their sketches recorded as a real audio sketch by a team of actors.

Best of all, at least one selected winner of the main BCG Pro contest (for those on the full BCG Pro plan) will be offered an exciting mentoring opportunity with an experienced writer or producer.

The 2023 judges

Laura Major. A talented and prolific comedy writer across a variety of formats on both television and radio, Laura's recent credits include Famalan (BBC), Spitting Image (BritBox & ITV), Joe Lycett's Got Your Back (Channel 4) and Breaking The News (BBC Radio Scotland). She has shows in development with Sky, Monumental and VAL.

David Tyler. David is an experienced radio producer with huge comedy hits on his CV. His work includes Spitting Image, Cabin Pressure, Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive, The 99p Challenge, Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation, and Beat The Record with Keith Fordyce.

Christine Rose. Christine's a writer across all comedy mediums and genres. Her credits range from 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown to The Ranganation and the BAFTA Awards to Horrible Histories.

How do I enter?

To demonstrate your ability to write funny, we're asking you to create two original sketches, each no longer than 90 seconds, to a given brief. Also, your sketches should include no more than three characters each.

Both scripts should be written as audio sketches - i.e. suitable to broadcast on the radio or put in a podcast. That means no visual gags - we want to test your character, jokes and dialogue, focusing your writing for a purely aural medium.

If you can, please write in radio script format (it's good to practice the tabbing and FX cues) but that isn't essential and you won't be expressly penalised for not doing so - making our judges laugh is the key thing!

Not sure what a radio script looks like? See our sketch tutorial

Each BCG Pro subscriber may submit one entry to the contest, either by themselves as an individual or on behalf of a writing partnership or team. When you're ready, simply upload your two sketches as a single Word or PDF file via the form below.

Please do not include your name or any other details on the document you upload. We will be judging entries blind to ensure the fairest process possible. Our entry system will track entrants so we can identify winners at the end of the process.

Any questions? Do ask us.

Rules

Each BCG Pro subscriber can submit one entry into the competition for consideration. You may use your entry to submit on behalf of a team/collective.

All entries must be the original work of the entrant, and must not infringe the rights of any other party.

Submissions deviating from the stipulated criteria (setting, characters and duration) will be considered null and void.

Entries including identifying details such as but not limited to name, email address or phone number within the script file may be disqualified.

Scripts may be submitted as Adobe PDF (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formats only.

We reserve the right for judges to move entries between categories (Starter and Pro) depending on entrants' level of professional experience.

BCG Pro is facilitating a connection between the winning entrant and the person/company offering the mentoring opportunity, and cannot be held in any way responsible for the provision or delivery of the mentoring opportunity once the winner has been picked. It is the right of the person/company to amend or withdraw any offer of assistance, advice, or other contact with the winning entrant, should they feel it necessary to do so. The winner will need to liaise with the person/company in order to arrange a mutually agreeable schedule. Neither British Comedy Guide nor the person/company are obligated to provide such services, although they will endeavour to do so. Unless agreed otherwise with the person/company in arranging the mentoring, the winner shall be liable for travel and/or accommodation required.

No cash or other alternative prize will be offered.

Whilst you may enter this competition if you are under 18 years old or living outside the UK, please be aware the mentoring prize may only be available to entrants aged 18 or over, who reside in the UK.