British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide

unusual: 10-Page Call Out

unusual's Jon Holmes

Radio is the lifeblood that underpins comedy in Britain. Time and again, it has proved itself not only a brilliant medium in its own right but also a fertile - and indispensable - training and proving ground for formats, writers, producers and performers alike.

From Galton & Simpson to The League Of Gentlemen, many of the most successful comedies on stage, television and film have, for a century, clear roots in BBC radio programming - and there's no sign of them being the last.

With more slots and budgets that go much further than its television counterparts, BBC Radio 4 is already the world's most prolific commissioner of comedy programming. The newer medium of podcasting and platforms like Audible throw the audio comedy net open much wider still.

For our latest competition, as we look for writers bristling with talent, we're excited to partner with award-winning indie unusual, the production company behind such hits as The Skewer, The Naked Week, and new comedy The Island, starring Stephen Mangan.

Together, we want to find the strongest, funniest new narrative scripts for audio comedy, and the writers behind them. Whether sitcom or comedy drama, they should paint genuinely enthralling, laugh-out-loud worlds for the listener to get lost in.

To that end, we're calling for submissions of your script's first 10 pages. You don't have to write to a brief, nor should you feel constrained by what you think any channel or streamer wants. We don't want a cover page, treatment, or outline of any form - let your characters do the talking. Whisk us into your setting from the very first line. Make us laugh. You know you want to.

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Terms and conditions

  1. This opportunity will close sharply at 23:59 BST on Monday 30th June 2025. Late entries will not be accepted under any circumstances.
  2. You must be a subscriber to BCG Pro to enter this opportunity.
  3. Each BCG Pro member can submit one (1) script sample. It can be from any episode in a prospective series, not just the first/pilot.
  4. Entries can be submitted yourself as an individual writer, or on behalf of a writing partnership or collective. If multiple writers are involved, ensure the names of all are recorded at the point of submission.
  5. The script sample must be an original piece of work and must not infringe on the rights of any other party.
  6. Each script must consist of no more than ten (10) pages formatted at A4 size, with text no smaller than 12 point.
  7. Script samples may only be submitted in Word (.doc/x) or Acrobat (.pdf) format.
  8. One you have submitted your script, you will have 48 hours in which to change your upload (i.e. revise your sample), after which point your entry will be locked. At this point, your script will be considered your final entry and moved to the reading pile.
  9. In order to facilitate blind, anonymous judging, submitted scripts should exclude a title page, author's name, and any other personally identifiable information.
  10. Any entries not adhering to rules set out above may be disqualified at British Comedy Guide's discretion.
  11. The best entries will be reviewed in detail by unusual productions limited with a view to providing feedback to the best entrants. No guarantee of development, option, or commission is offered. Any opportunity to engage further with unusual will be offered at their discretion and may require the entrant to sign a waiver.
  12. British Comedy Guide reserves the right to alter the terms of this contest and/or the duration of the entry window at its discretion.
  13. This opportunity is being run by British Comedy Guide. unusual productions limited may already be involved in any number of projects bearing similarity to ideas that may be reflected in entries to this Opportunity. Neither British Comedy Guide nor unusual productions limited can undertake to compensate entrants if material similar to that submitted, received coincidentally from another source, is subsequently commissioned or produced.
  14. All entries are covered by British Comedy Guide's privacy policies. By entering this opportunity you are granting permission for British Comedy Guide to share your name, contact details and submission with unusual productions limited.
  15. British Comedy Guide and unusual productions limited are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible or misdirected submissions, which will be disqualified.