British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

Sitcom

Writing sitcom is hard to master... there's lots to think about and learn! Hopefully these articles will help you hone your situations and characters.

Only Fools And Horses. Image shows left to right: Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Del (David Jason)

"Has it been done before?"

  • Wednesday 20th November 2024

We consider the question that troubles every writer of a sitcom pilot.

Man holding a magnifying glass

There's a plot afoot

  • Tuesday 19th November 2024

The plots in your sitcom scripts are worth spending time on.

Red Dwarf. Image shows left to right: Kryten (Robert Llewellyn), Cat (Danny John-Jules), Lister (Craig Charles), Rimmer (Chris Barrie)

Back to basics 1: Feasibility

  • Monday 18th November 2024

In a new series of columns on the basics of narrative comedy writing, we look at the topic of feasibility.

The Comedy Doctor. Credit: BCG

The Comedy Doctor on main characters

  • Friday 15th November 2024

The Comedy Doctor answers a question from a member worried about the number of characters in their pilot script.

Test Tube

The point of a pilot

  • Thursday 14th November 2024

What is the point of a pilot episode? Let's take a look.

Kröd Mändoon And The Flaming Sword Of Fire. Image shows left to right: Bruce (Marques Ray), Krod Mandoon (Sean Maguire), Aneka (India de Beaufort), Loquasto (Steve Speirs), Zezelryck (Kevin Hart)

Magic moments

  • Thursday 7th November 2024

Should you write a fantasy sitcom? There are several reasons to potentially avoid the genre.

One Foot In The Grave. Image shows left to right: Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson), Margaret Meldrew (Annette Crosbie)

"Coincidence? I think not!"

  • Tuesday 5th November 2024

Coincidence kills comedy. No, really, it does.

Bellamy's People. Image shows left to right: Rosie Cavaliero, Simon Day, Paul Whitehouse, Gary Bellamy (Rhys Thomas), Charlie Higson, Lucy Montgomery, Felix Dexter

Developing characters: If in doubt, slap on an adjective

  • Monday 4th November 2024

We explore a simple method for developing a character.

Derry Girls. Image shows left to right: Michelle Mallon (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell), Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson). Credit: Hat Trick Productions

Writing characterful dialogue

  • Friday 1st November 2024

It's very important that the dialogue in your sitcom script is characterful.

Thumbs down

The absolute basics

  • Tuesday 29th October 2024

Micheál Jacob looks at the absolute basics of narrative comedy writing.