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.

Quacks. Image shows from L to R: Dr. Hendrick (Rupert Everett), Robert (Rory Kinnear), Caroline (Lydia Leonard), William (Mathew Baynton), John (Tom Basden). Copyright: Lucky Giant

Do my characters work?

  • Tuesday 18th March 2025

How do you know if your characters are working? We take a look.

Big Comedy Conference 2024. Image shows left to right: Jason Cook, Lee Mack

Big Comedy Conference video: Lee Mack

  • Tuesday 4th March 2025

Here's Lee Mack talking to Jason Cook at last year's Big Comedy Conference. Trust us, this video is unmissable.

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.

Fleabag. Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Copyright: Two Brothers Pictures

Creating compelling comedy characters Long read

  • Thursday 30th January 2025

Chris Head explores character creation in television comedy scripts.

Count Abdulla. Abdulla Khan (Arian Nik)

The right way Long read

  • Thursday 23rd January 2025

The first in a new series of long reads. In this piece we ask, is there a right way to construct your sitcom?

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 Inbetweeners. Will Mackenzie (Simon Bird). Copyright: Bwark Productions

Back to basics 2: Situation

  • Thursday 5th December 2024

We consider the "situation" in situation comedy.

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?