Here's a strange thing: I submitted 'Colonel Tucky's Chicken Shed' about a fried chicken shop to a BBC Writersroom comp a couple of years back and it did really well. Fast forward to Sept 2014 and 'Fried' (also a bout a fried chicken shop and with similar gags) gets a 6 part series. https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/000001575/fried_sitcom_gets_bbc3_series/
Has this happened to anyone else?
Yes, it's happened to countless people.
Is it theft or is it coincidence?
I'd say it's usually coincidence but who knows?
Has it happened to anyone here? I know it happens a lot 
Wasn't there another sitcom based in a chicken shop - a couple of years ago?
There are shit loads of chicken shops nowadays, so it's quite possible that yours was one of multiple chicken shop based scripts - and I bet they all had similar jokes too!
Though saying that, if they did choose another one, I'm sure if they liked parts of yours they would have been tempted to use it a bit
Quote: Fred Peters @ 10th August 2015, 8:25 PM BSTI know it happens a lot
Based on what? Where do you get this information?
I think the opposite is probably true.
An institution like the BBC could do without the trouble - they'd go out of their way to avoid any accusations of theft.
Coincidence, I'm afraid.
Fred stop whining about this you're making yourself sound ridiculous.
The Likely Lads, Peep Show 2 sitcoms about 2 different guys sharing a flat.
Friends, 3 Pints of lager and a packet of Crisps; 2 sitcoms about a bunch of mates living in a city.
Metal Mickey, Red Dwarf, Small Miracle 3 sitcoms where one of the main characters is a robot.
All completely different.
The basic idea is almost irrelevant and no one really cares about. It's the relationships between, the setting and the characters and the characters and each other.
They would have to rip off a lot more than your mere basic premise for you to have anything to moan about.
Did you mean me or Fred? I didn't think I came across as that bothered 
Has they been any successful sitcoms set in fast food outlets? There was the children's show Spatz, but that wasn't that successful.
Quote: Paul Wimsett @ 11th August 2015, 5:58 PM BSTHas they been any successful sitcoms set in fast food outlets? There was the children's show Spatz, but that wasn't that successful.
And from looking at the clip, I can't imagine that's about to change.
Jesus - the OP wants to consider themselves well out of it.
Quote: Davey Jay @ 11th August 2015, 4:25 PM BSTDid you mean me or Fred? I didn't think I came across as that bothered
Apologies now corrected
Quote: Paul Wimsett @ 11th August 2015, 5:58 PM BSTHas they been any successful sitcoms set in fast food outlets?
Futurama often used that setting.
Not exclusively though.
In the early 80's I wrote a sitcom called the Young Gang,
Another Called Black Rattlesnake
One Called Man Behaving badly
And one called 2 and 3/4 men.
Got ripped off on all of them, so gave up and became a taxi dermis.
We live and learn!!!!
Quote: FunyHaHA Not Funy Strange @ 12th August 2015, 10:35 AM BST...so gave up and became a taxi dermis.
Is that someone who transports paying passengers in a car made of Skin?
Quote: playfull @ 12th August 2015, 2:41 PM BSTIs that someone who transports paying passengers in a car made of Skin?
Yes! :-)
Quote: Paul Wimsett @ 11th August 2015, 5:58 PM BSTHas they been any successful sitcoms set in fast food outlets? There was the children's show Spatz, but that wasn't that successful.
How about Bobs Burgers - that was great