Nan Taylor to make a return to our screens

As reported by the British Comedy Guide (@UKComedyNews): https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/000001249/catherine_tate_new_nan_tv_show/ Nan Taylor is making a return to our screens sometime soon, somewhat later than originally planned. How do I know that? Four years ago, as a writing exercise, I decided to put together a script for a Nan Taylor special, but along the way, I thought I'd check if it was something that maybe I could pursue as a 'live' idea, only to be told, by Mathew Horne, that the wheels were already in motion. Clearly there was then some delay, but here, for your critique I present my unfinished episode....

http://www.alasdairmurraycopy.com/nan-taylor-script-idea.html

Hi Aldeem

Looking at your site hope you don't mind some friendly advice. You're a succesful copy writer, well done you seem to have lots of credits.

But unless I'm reading your site completely wrong, or you're putting it over really badly. Then you've not got many credits as a comedy writer, you've just got some pages of unoriginal and dated material (Osama Bin Laden, Lob da Man in the sea, is both).

Not to mention this script which basically shows you can do a so so, impersonation of someone elses character.

You should really put it in showcase or critique, it's hubris to put it in general comedy. And the little Mathew Horne twitter exchange is pure Walter Mittey.

I'm saying this as nicely as possible, because otherwise you're detracting from your copy writing, at the same time as detracting from your comedy writing/

If you post the script in Showcase or Critique I'd be happy to read it.

Sorry, yes it was speculative at the time, but I put it on hold when I was told that they had already started filming something. Just wanted to share my unfinished piece for fun.

Longer comment in place.

Also getting some decent writing credentials is not difficult. Have a pop at News Revue and News Jack, offer comedians jokes for free what ever.

A few weeks work and you'll some actual credits for the website.

I see it's been moved will now read it.

Thanks. I have had some writing credits a while back, namely on Parsons & Naylor's Pull Out Sections. Also had a sitcom in development with the Beeb for a while in 2004. With things like Newsjack and News Revue though I don't get the same kind of inspiration. Political and current satire isn't really my bag, sadly. I was just intrigued to hear that Nan is making a comeback after it would seem whatever project they had on the go in 2009 must have been shelved.

The script feels quite clunky and long. It also doesn't feel especially much like the character, there isn't much swearing in it.

Also it's full of verbs, verbs are comedy writers worst enemy.

So your characters keep saying,

"I think..." "She did...."etc

slows the action right down, in any script we should be watching and guessing not being told.

Quote: sootyj @ September 25 2013, 11:21 AM BST

Hi Aldeem

Looking at your site hope you don't mind some friendly advice. You're a succesful copy writer, well done you seem to have lots of credits.

But unless I'm reading your site completely wrong, or you're putting it over really badly. Then you've not got many credits as a comedy writer, you've just got some pages of unoriginal and dated material (Osama Bin Laden, Lob da Man in the sea, is both).

Not to mention this script which basically shows you can do a so so, impersonation of someone elses character.

You should really put it in showcase or critique, it's hubris to put it in general comedy. And the little Mathew Horne twitter exchange is pure Walter Mittey.

I'm saying this as nicely as possible, because otherwise you're detracting from your copy writing, at the same time as detracting from your comedy writing/

If you post the script in Showcase or Critique I'd be happy to read it.

View original

Fair dos. I wasn't sure where to put it. Was really just a story about how four years ago I had an idea, thought I'd check if it had legs but was told that filming was already underway, so dropped it.

Also, re the Osama Bin laden anagram being unoriginal, this may interest you... http://alconcalcias.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/sorry-for-my-creative-angst-this-week.html

Quote: Aldeem @ September 25 2013, 11:35 AM BST

Thanks. I have had some writing credits a while back, namely on Parsons & Naylor's Pull Out Sections. Also had a sitcom in development with the Beeb for a while in 2004. With things like Newsjack and News Revue though I don't get the same kind of inspiration. Political and current satire isn't really my bag, sadly. I was just intrigued to hear that na is making a comeback after it would seem whatever project they had on the go in 2009 must have been shelved.

View original

Well post that stuff up! A sitcom can be in preprodution for an eternity no reason not to show it off.

It's just that as your site reads, it sounds like you haven't got any credits.

Which turns out isn't true,

Quote: Aldeem @ September 25 2013, 11:39 AM BST

Fair dos. I wasn't sure where to put it. Was really just a story about how four years ago I had an idea, thought I'd check if it had legs but was told that filming was already underway, so dropped it.

Also, re the Osama Bin laden anagram being unoriginal, this may interest you... http://alconcalcias.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/sorry-for-my-creative-angst-this-week.html

View original

it's the curse of the joke writer, the better you are the more likely someone else thought of the same jokes.

I think the most famous was Gordon Brown/Golden Brown which no one would do.

Until the League of Gentlemen did it on their London special, to make a joke of obvious puns themselves.

Quote: sootyj @ September 25 2013, 11:39 AM BST

Well post that stuff up! A sitcom can be in preprodution for an eternity no reason not to show it off.

It's just that as your site reads, it sounds like you haven't got any credits.

Which turns out isn't true,

View original

More a case of not wanting to so much showcase my comedy writing but rather just have a section for it so that those who use me for copywriting can see that I do other writing too.On the comedy writing home page I do refer to the sitcom in development and my writing for Parsons & Naylor. I also reproduced a sketch and, on another page, an extract from the sitcom.

http://www.alasdairmurraycopy.com/my-comedy-writing.html

Not the easiest thing to find on your site.

I'm shy and retiring (though not anytime soon) :-)