British Comedy Guide

Laughing Stock 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/laughing_stock_2011.shtml

Bold, funny and original

BBC Writersroom and BBC Comedy Commissioning are joining forces in a nationwide competition to find new comedy gold. If you can invent characters that make us laugh out loud, tell stories that keep us on the edge of our seats, and tease the audience to come back for more, then we want to hear from you.

Write it, send it in - and you could be in line not just for a comedy masterclass but also an intensive week away developing your idea hand in hand with BBC comedy producers and established comedy writing talent. This is an opportunity not to be missed - if your idea leaps every hurdle then you may even get the chance of having your work performed at our Sitcom Showcase in the newly opened Studio in Media City, Salford.

The challenge is to write an original comedy script with series potential. We're looking for writers that reflect modern Britain, comedy voices that have not yet been heard, and talent that's just bursting to get out.

You will need to send us a script that's between 15 - 30 minutes long and a one page outline of how your series would develop. The work must not have been previously commissioned, optioned or produced and this opportunity is for writers who have not yet had a network commission.

Judges:
Cheryl Taylor (Controller, Comedy Commissioning for the BBC)
Kate Rowland (Creative Director of New Writing for the BBC)
Writer, Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly, Reggie Perrin, Doctor Who)

To enter, send your script and one page outline to:

Laughing Stock
BBC writersroom
Grafton House
379 Euston Road
London
NW1 3AU

CLOSING DATE: Monday February 21st 2011
MASTERCLASS: Tuesday 5th April in Manchester 2011

WINNERS ANNOUNCED on or before Tuesday 31st May 2011

RESIDENTIAL: w/c 6th June 2011

SITCOM FESTIVAL (in Salford) Sept 26th - 2nd Oct 2011

I'm on it.

Ta for heads up.

i suppose that means if you've submitted it to Sit(com)mission you can't send it here too.

There's a short blog about this from judge Simon Nye here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2010/12/laughing_stock_2011.shtml

Quote: Chappers @ December 13 2010, 9:57 PM GMT

i suppose that means if you've submitted it to Sit(com)mission you can't send it here too.

They're different length scripts, and your Sitcom Mission one should be aimed at the stage, whereas this one should be aimed at the TV medium - so I can't see why you couldn't enter both?

Quote: Mark @ December 13 2010, 10:42 PM GMT

There's a short blog about this from judge Simon Nye here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2010/12/laughing_stock_2011.shtml

They're different length scripts, and your Sitcom Mission one should be aimed at the stage, whereas this one should be aimed at the TV medium - so I can't see why you couldn't enter both?

The Sit(com)mission is only aimed for staging initially. then when you win th competition you'll become a TV sitcom writer.

And it says 15-30 minutes long. Sit(com)mission is up to 15 minutes.

I'm firing my script from a giant rubber band catapult at the moon.

If the man in the moon decides to produce it in his giant space theatre, will I have to declare it?

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2010, 10:57 PM GMT

...in addition to the six episodes you've already prepared for Sitcom Mission.

You are a card, Griff! :D

Quote: Badge @ December 14 2010, 12:33 AM GMT

You are a tard, Griff! :D

Badge!

Quote: sootyj @ December 14 2010, 12:39 AM GMT

Bodge!

Wave

Good opportunity.

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2010, 10:57 PM GMT

Exactly. People get television commissions as a result of winning the Sitcom Mission/Trials ALL THE TIME. That could definitely be a problem.

However, I wonder if there might be a possible difficulty with the rule noted on the BBC blog: "The work must not have been previously commissioned, optioned or produced". If you sent the same sitcom project to both competitions, and it gets selected and produced by Sitcom Mission BEFORE the April/May selection date for the BBC comp, I don't know whether the BBC would consider the script to be ineligible at that point? Maybe someone from the BBC could clarify for us?

Probably safest to write a completely separate sitcom for the BBC opportunity in addition to the six episodes you've already prepared for Sitcom Mission.

You really must stop this Sitcom Mission bullying, Griff.

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2010, 10:57 PM GMT

Probably safest to write a completely separate sitcom for the BBC opportunity in addition to the six episodes you've already prepared for Sitcom Mission.

Ouch!

Laughing out loud

Cheers for the heads-up, Gerry.

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2010, 10:57 PM GMT

Probably safest to write a completely separate sitcom for the BBC opportunity in addition to the six episodes you've already prepared for Sitcom Mission.

Six?! Amateurs! They'll never crack the American market with just six...

Dan

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2010, 10:57 PM GMT

Exactly. People get television commissions as a result of winning the Sitcom Mission/Trials ALL THE TIME. That could definitely be a problem.

The 2010 winner is currently with Hat Trick and stormed Edinburgh off the back of The Sitcom Mission, and the 2009 winning script is with BBC Comedy, so it does have some merit :)

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2010, 10:57 PM GMT

"The work must not have been previously commissioned, optioned or produced"

The live shows for The Sitcom Mission start in April, the deadline for Laughter Stock is February... so technically at the time you enter your script for the BBC competition it certainly won't have been produced.

Either way, I think the two competitions are looking for different things, so you'd probably be foolish to enter the same script for both.

Griff

writing for the bbc is like being a sperm cell. Only a few reach the egg, it doesn't make the others bad swimmers.

And the winner can some times turn out to be Micheal Macintyre.

I might enter this! You slackers are no competition...

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