British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
Dave Cohen
Dave Cohen

Dave Cohen

  • English
  • Actor, writer, script editor, stand-up comedian and tutor

Dave Cohen features

Man holding a speech bubble near a phone with Twitter logo on Pro

Have I Got New For You: Course I can take a joke! (If it's at your expense)

Wednesday 25th September 2024

Dave Cohen explores the influence of Twitter on comedians and comedy writers.

Have I Got News For You. Image shows left to right: Paul Merton, Ian Hislop. Credit: Matt Crockett Pro

Have I Got New For You: What now for topical comedy?

Friday 20th September 2024

Dave Cohen explains that, no matter who's in power, topical comedy remains a route to success.

Dave Cohen Pro

Korea opportunities

Friday 9th August 2024

There's a new government in town, and if you want to be a comedy writer it's actually of interest to you, writes Dave Cohen.

Three pens Pro

Three comedy writing competitions to enter - now

Friday 23rd February 2024

Dave Cohen runs down the three comedy writing competitions that require your attention now. You have 20 days to write 10 pages.

DMs Are Open Pro

DMs Are Open - But closing fast

Friday 5th January 2024

Details on what the producers are looking for in Series 3 of DMs Are Open. You'll need to act soon: if you don't get anything in by 24th January, you'll be too late.

BBC Writersroom Open Call Pro

Webinar video: Simon Nelson from BBC Writersroom

Wednesday 1st November 2023

A recording of the webinar in which Simon Nelson from BBC Writersroom talks about what sort of comedy dramas the BBC is looking for in the next BBC Writersroom Script Call Window.

Image shows left to right: Dan Sweryt, Eleanor Hayward Pro

Video: How to pick up radio writing credits

Wednesday 27th September 2023

The video of a webinar in which writing for radio comedy shows such as Breaking The News and The Skewer is discussed in-depth.

BBC Radio microphone Pro

How to pick up radio credits

Monday 25th September 2023

Getting your first comedy writing credit is the best feeling ever. So says Dave Cohen, who got his exactly 40 years ago and remembers every detail.

Big Comedy Conference 2023. Image shows left to right: Dave Cohen, David Flynn, Jon Holmes, Rajiv Karia Pro

Big Comedy Conference video: Open Door Shows

Friday 23rd June 2023

The video recording of the Big Comedy Conference session in which Breaking The News series producer David Flynn, The Skewer creator Jon Holmes and DMs Are Open producer Rajiv Karia discuss how to submit material to their formats.

Tim Ferriss Pro

The four hour voice

Sunday 19th March 2023

Dave Cohen explains how listening to Tim Ferriss learning about writing is a helpful task in finding your own writer's voice.

Abstract rainbow pattern Pro

What do I want to write?

Thursday 9th February 2023

April's Big Comedy Conference will be hosting a number of panels around the craft of writing sitcom and comedy drama. Dave Cohen offers some pointers to help you decide the kind of script you'll want to develop.

Big Comedy Conference Pro

Writers: Coming to Big Comedy Conference? You should be!

Friday 27th January 2023

Why should you bother coming to the Big Comedy Conference? Dave Cohen has some thoughts. Also: news of an extra bonus if you live near London or are planning to stay overnight - a Sunday workshop.

Breaking The News. Image shows left to right: Jim Smith, Jay Lafferty, Des Clarke, Martel Maxwell, Neil Delamere Pro

The return of the topical comedy show

Thursday 12th January 2023

Dave Cohen explains why you should seriously consider developing your news-based joke writing skills.

Sitcom Geeks Pro

Looking back on 200 episodes of Sitcom Geeks

Thursday 1st September 2022

As Sitcom Geeks publishes its 200th episode, co-host Dave Cohen looks back on what has changed and what has stayed the same in the world of comedy writing over the last seven years.

Image shows from L to R: Gemma Arrowsmith, Dave Cohen Pro

Watch back the How To Write A Great Sketch webinar

Friday 10th June 2022

BCG Pro facilitated a Zoom-based webinar on the topic of 'How To Write A Sketch'. Here's the video recording of that hour-long session.

Writing Pro

How to be a great sitcom writer - one sketch at a time

Wednesday 25th May 2022

Writer and tutor Dave Cohen makes a very compelling case for practicing short-form writing (sketches) in order to excel in longer-form narrative (sitcom). All the disciplines you need are right there...

Image shows from L to R: Gemma Arrowsmith, Dave Cohen Pro

How To Write A Sketch: a free BCG Pro webinar on Tuesday 31st May

Friday 20th May 2022

On Tuesday 31st May 2022, from 7pm to 8pm, BCG Pro will be facilitating a free Zoom-based webinar on the topic of 'How To Write A Sketch' featuring experts Gemma Arrowsmith and Dave Cohen.

Lightbulb Pro

Where do you get your comedy ideas from?

Wednesday 16th February 2022

If you've decided that you want to be a comedy writer, or if you're already some way down the road to becoming one, you're going to need loads of ideas. But where can you get them from, and what do you need to do once you've thought one up?

Hat Trick Productions logo. Copyright: Hat Trick Productions Pro

Hat Trick Sitcom Script Competition: An introduction

Wednesday 3rd November 2021

Ahead of the exciting Hat Trick Sitcom Geeks Script Competition, here's a blog explaining the tone of show that the competition will be looking for.

Image shows from L to R: Dave Cohen, Dan Sweryt Pro

The fastest way to make a living writing comedy

Friday 24th September 2021

Newsjack may have finished, but Dave Cohen explains how you can write for two other topical BBC radio shows: The Skewer and Breaking The News.

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