Hi Chris. Who are you and what do you do in comedy?
I'm a comedy writer, primarily working in children's and topical.
I started out in 2007 making silly online videos and performing live with my writing partner, James Bishop. We met whilst working in WH Smith and had a shared interest in being writers. I have fond memories of writing scenes on the back of unwanted till receipts and assigning personas and backstories to customers as they shopped.
Realising that NOBODY was going to be interested in reading anything from two unknowns, we started (poorly) filming and (also poorly) acting in our own material and putting it online. As this was the relatively early days of YouTube and careers were being made overnight... We put all our chips on Myspace and we all know how that worked out. Cheers Tom, we thought you were our friend!
We were able to build a small but dedicated audience and attract some big comedy names (John Mulaney, Sean Lock, Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler, Kay Cannon, Joel McHale, Bodger & Badger!) to appear in our sketches and landed an opportunity to work with Funny or Die UK.
We eventually got a few TV credits, almost got the pop group Hanson to appear at James' wedding, and then shifted our focus to writing for kids. We now write regularly for CBeebies and CBBC, which is the most fun ever.
When James landed a book deal thanks to Lorraine Kelly (it's a long story), I found myself needing to find more work. I started submitting to Newsjack and after many Thursday evenings spent refreshing my inbox and sulking, I started to have some success. I now write for a few topical shows and try to support new writers through my Comedy Loser blog. My latest venture has been scripting eight episodes of an upcoming podcast.
What was the first comedy that resonated with you personally?
I distinctly remember seeing the advert for Boy Meets World and excitedly telling my Mum about it. This must have been 1993-94 but I can see it so vividly. Standing in the kitchen, spending five minutes describing a thirty second advert. The show grabbed me instantly. I didn't hang out in my treehouse and live next door to my teacher, but the concept really resonated with me. I felt like I was growing up with the characters and totally bought into their stories. I was never particularly close with my older brother and the relationship between Cory and Eric felt very authentic to me.
I think a lot of people discount it as some dumb 90's kids show, but it's way more than that. Go back and watch episodes like 'And Then There Was Shawn', 'Seven the Hard Way', 'The Eskimo', and the one where Eric gets cast on a series called 'Kid Gets Acquainted with Universe'. They did some really fun, meta stuff way before shows like Community came along. Don't even get me started on the emotional rollercoaster of 'A Long Walk to Pittsburgh' and the trip to the ski lodge (guest starring Freaks and Geeks' Linda Cardellini)!
The whole series and the sequel (Girl Meets World, in case you were wondering) is all on Disney+ now and is my ultimate comfort TV. Parks and Rec rules apply - skip that first season if it's your first time.
Tell us about your comedy favourites.
I grew up in the 90's and although I didn't have Sky TV, my Nan would fill up entire VHS tapes with recordings of Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and The Simpsons. I watched so much of the stuff. Not only was I binging things like Hey Arnold, Doug and Cow & Chicken, but I was watching the classics from previous generations that pathed the way. All the old Hanna-Barbera series and Loony Tunes cartoons, which are an absolute masterclass in comedy.
When I eventually did get cable TV, as well as being able to now watch more than a VHS worth of cartoons and kid's sitcoms, I would watch anything on the Paramount Comedy channel. That's when my love of stand up started, all thanks to Chris Rock's Bring the Pain special. It's also when the world of US sitcoms and sketch shows really opened up to me - Taxi, Larry Sanders, Seinfeld, NewsRadio, King of the Hill, Scrubs... developing into Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, Curb, Crashing, Community...
I could give a massive list of all the series I love. Instead I'll just say when I was first starting out, the big ones were Mr Show, Human Giant, The Simpsons and Kevin Smith's movies. I always think about The Simpsons when I'm writing. Regardless of your feelings about the consistency of the quality, every episode is packed with jokes. I recommend reading Mike Reiss' book. It'll give you an appreciation of how hard they work to fill every frame with gags. The jokes are literally stacked on top of each other. It inspires me to not just come up with a funny line but to also surround it with visual humour, whether it's slapstick action or a hidden joke on an object in the background.
I realise that this is supposed to be focussed on British comedy, so I'll also say Spaced, Him & Her, Peep Show, This Country, Big Train, The Brittas Empire, Bottom... and I once wet myself watching the flashing Santa scene from the Are You Being Served? Christmas special.
What's your proudest moment, in terms of your comedy work?
The first time I saw my name in the credits on TV. After thinking nobody would be interested in our writing and taking it into our own hands by making content and blindly uploading it, hoping that other people would care... to have a sketch broadcast on a BBC1 comedy series (The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson) was a huge deal. I'm a nightmare at always looking ahead, thinking of the next goal and not being present to recognise and celebrate wins, but this one really felt like an achievement.
These days I love writing on things that my kids watch, like Gigglebiz, Diddy TV and Crackerjack. I love being able to sit with them to watch together and discuss their own ideas for sketches and episodes. CBeebies and CBBC are so important to families and I'm really proud to be involved in a very small way with the work they do.
What's the best advice you've ever been given, read or heard?
Back when I was starting out, I would go to comedy nights and approach the acts after the show for advice. It was always the same, "Take advantage of every opportunity."
One night I was at the 100 Club for a show featuring David Cross, Kristen Schaal, Todd Barry, and Eugene Mirman.
After the gig a crowd of people surrounded Cross. One guy said to him that he wanted to be a stand up comedian and asked if he had any advice. Sure enough he was told to take advantage of every opportunity, prompting me to say, "Speaking of which..." and stick a DVD of my homemade sitcom into Cross' hand. Two years later I was in Soho Square filming a sketch with him.
That same night I also filmed a scene with Rich Fulcher, gave my details to Kristen Schaal which led to her appearing in one of my videos and live shows, and Dave Gorman bought me a vodka and coke.
Take advantage of every opportunity.
Where would you like to be in 10 years' time?
Every year so far has been better for me that the last, both creatively and financially. My hope is that this continues. An increase in commissions each year, building up to achieving that big dream we all have - quitting the day job and earning a living as a writer.
I'm currently writing on my first longform scripted series (with 2 x 25 minute episodes of a kid's series). In 10 years I hope to have written on a lot more shows like this, particularly animated. Of course I'd like to have developed an original series too. Bish and I have pitched a couple of concepts recently, so we'll see...
I also hope that I would have finished the book I've been thinking about writing for the last six months... or is it a movie?
If you ever get free time, how do you spend it?
I like going to comedy shows, man. That's something I really miss. My favourite place is the Leicester Square Theatre. I've seen some incredible shows there. I was actually supposed to go right around the time lockdown started. I love that place. I can't wait until it's safe to get on a coach to London, grab some Mexican food from Lupita or a MOD Pizza and go and see some comedy with my friends.
I've got three small kids and work full time alongside writing so free time is a rare treat. I managed to get out to see Dave Chappelle at the start of the year and I'm glad I did because I think that's going to be my only chance to see a comedy set not filmed on Zoom.
When we're fortunate enough to have him tour over here, you can find me in the crowd of most Bruce Springsteen shows. Mime-singing my heart out.
What's your favourite phone app?
I'm pretty useless with phone apps. Through the lockdown I found myself having to download new ones with names like Twitch and Discord. It's the first time I've ever felt confused by technology.
I'm a Twitter boy. What I like about it is the ability to build a community around you. Writing can be quite a lonely experience and it's really important that you surround yourself with people who get it. If you're writing on submission series like Newsjack, I really recommend reaching out to others in the same boat as you.
Published: Friday 10th July 2020