How much is a sucessful sitcom worth in bangers and mash to the writer.
I wanna know.
I realy do.
How much?
I think I may just have come up with a real stunner but its shitloads of work and I am a lazy bastard energised only by dosh, fukk the fame.
Bread
2 bangers and 3 mash.
(I don't know.)
I asked this recently and the answer seems to be "not much". It hasn't put me off but i have now worked out i need an HBO deal and global syndication before i can quit work 
I can lendja thirty pence.
I read somewhere once that if you got a 6 episode sitcom with the BBC you would get around £30,000. But don't quote me on that.
You need to get a really big hit sitcom to make money. One which spawns lots of merchandise aka The Office.
Thats what i heard, £5k per episode....you need to write it, direct it and star in it - then have NBC pick it up...then you're ok.
166 pounds a minute it seems. So about 30k that would suggest.
Not sure about sketches though - not that you asked!
See the Writer's Guild site for more bit and bobs about not getting screwed over by the BBC!
Obviously you get repeat fees too, so you'll make a bit when it goes out again. Though obviously Susan Nickson's contract must say she doesn't get anymore cash once a 2 Pints episode goes out for the tenth time or something.
I wonder how a sitcom writer gets mortgage then? They can't guarantee an income surely?
Quote: Seefacts @ March 5, 2008, 7:22 PMhttp://www.writersguild.org.uk/public/userimages/File/Agreements%20and%20rates/BBC%20TV%20rates%20Nov%202007.pdf
Not sure about sketches though - not that you asked!
Sketches don't receive much. I think you get a couple of hundred quid for each televised one. It's a nice amount, but it won't pay the mortgage for long.
Quote: Winterlight @ March 5, 2008, 7:28 PMSketches don't receive much. I think you get a couple of hundred quid for each televised one. It's a nice amount, but it won't pay the mortgage for long.
Yeah, that's what I thought. Still, they'd pay for a nice holiday.
Mind you. I expect Harry Enfield used to get paid a lot more for his sketch shows.
Quote: Winterlight @ March 5, 2008, 7:30 PMMind you. I expect Harry Enfield used to get paid a lot more for his sketch shows.
Well yeah, being in it bumped it up.
Quote: Seefacts @ March 5, 2008, 7:22 PMI wonder how a sitcom writer gets mortgage then? They can't guarantee an income surely?
Not to vital nowadays, you can self sert your mortgage if your income is not the normal 9-5 sort. Your problem on 6 episodes a year would be paying it not getting it!
Quote: M Lewis @ March 5, 2008, 7:33 PMNot to vital nowadays, you can self sert your mortgage if your income is not the normal 9-5 sort. Your problem on 6 episodes a year would be paying it not getting it!
Ah, your financial advice brain is kicking in there!
Well, if you wrote 6 episodes a year you'd be able to survive.
If I become a full time writer, I'll do script reading. It's a licence to print money from what I can tell.
Oh, and M Lewis - you owe me 60 quid! 
Quote: Griff @ March 5, 2008, 8:25 PMHow many writers get commissioned to write 6 eps a year, every year, for any length of time ? For every Only Fools And Horses there's a lot of Mad About Alice's and Roman's Empire's whose writers go back to obscurity.
But yes, to make any kind of a living from TV writing would be wonderful and it sounds like you're a lot closer than any of us to living the dream!! Fingers crossed for you.
Well, a few shows recently have had 2 series commissioned before the first has even gone out. Gavin and Stacey being one. So that'd be two years of security.
If that was me I'd use it as a deposit for a flat, that'd be a weight from my shoulders for the future. (What a dull insight into my life)
In saying that, WHEN do you get paid? On script completion? On broadcast. Interesting points.