British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

Writing (general)

This is our section housing general advice about comedy writing.

The Thick Of It. Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi). Copyright: BBC

Finding flaws in your sitcom characters

  • Thursday 3rd April 2025

We discuss flaws in sitcom characters. How do you find them, and how do you make them work?

Swiss Toni. Swiss Toni (Charlie Higson). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

How to break in as a comedy writer

  • Tuesday 1st April 2025

We outline how to break into the comedy industry as a writer.

Copyright

How to copyright your script

  • Tuesday 25th March 2025

New writers often worry about copyright. Should they? We take a look.

The House logo. Credit: BCG

The House: notes on notes

  • Thursday 27th February 2025

Micheál Jacob discusses script notes - all writers get them!

Person typing on a laptop

The first draft

  • Tuesday 25th February 2025

Some advice on writing the first draft of your script and combatting some of the problems that every writer faces on occasion.

Big Comedy Conference 2024. Image shows left to right: Nathan D'Arcy Roberts, Toussaint Douglass, CJ Rock, Andy Townsend

Big Comedy Conference video: Writers and agents

  • Wednesday 29th January 2025

A video from our 2024 Big Comedy Conference in which writers Toussaint Douglass and Simon Nye and agents CJ Rock and Andy Townsend discuss the practicalities of the industry today and what you might expect in the future.

Brassic

Making a scene

  • Friday 13th December 2024

Every scene in your comedy script should move the story forward - and contain something funny.

The Masterson Inheritance. Image shows from L to R: Phelim McDermott, Josie Lawrence, Jim Sweeney, Caroline Quentin, Lee Simpson, Paul Merton. Copyright: BBC

A word on parody

  • Tuesday 10th December 2024

We consider parody as a comic sub-genre.

The Russell Howard Hour. Image shows from L to R: Richard Curtis, Russell Howard. Copyright: Avalon Television

Writing to order

  • Tuesday 3rd December 2024

Learning to write to order is a skill that all professional comedy writers need to develop.

Only Child. Image shows left to right: Richard (Greg McHugh), Lydia Bartlett (Samantha Spiro)

Sitcom or comedy drama?

  • Friday 29th November 2024

Sitcom or comedy drama - which should you write?