BBC Scotland announces new radio comedies
BBC Scotland has revealed its comedy plans for 2014. The regional BBC broadcaster has ordered six new radio pilots, and is working on various TV and online projects.
The radio shows - detailed in full below - include a sitcom starring Still Game's Sanjeev Kohli and a comedy set at a golf club created by Two Doors Down writer Simon Carlyle. Executive Producer Steve Canny says: "The new commissions represent BBC Scotland's commitment to Scottish comedy, Scottish performers and new Scottish writers."
As previously announced, BBC Scotland is also working on a second series of BBC Four sitcom Bob Servant, and -as reported last August - is bringing a full series of spoof police show Scot Squad to television later this year.
Additionally, sketch group How Do I Get Up There? have filmed a pilot which will broadcast on BBC Two Scotland later in 2014.
Also announced today is an initiative aimed at young writers. 15 to 24 year-olds are encouraged to submit material for the online show What's Funny... About The Scottish Independence Referendum?. Entries can be made in the form of one-line jokes, monologues, self-recorded material or written sketches.
The winning entrants will work with BBC comedy producers and comedians to further develop their ideas with the best being performed and recorded for broadcast online. Producer Gerald Strother offers the following advice: "Be imaginative. Be provocative. Be creative. But most of all be funny." To find out more about how to get involved with this show visit the BBC Website. The deadline is Friday 28 March 2014.
BBC Scotland has also reaffirmed its support of the Glasgow Comedy Festival. The corporation is organising 'Best of Red Raw', a beginners' showcase which will run weekly during the festival at The Stand club, where brand-new comedians who have never appeared on stage will be given the opportunity to perform alongside established stand-ups who are trying out new material.
BBC Radio Scotland's new comedy shows
The following are the six half-hour radio sitcom pilots that have been commissioned. They will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland later this year.
Homework, written by Richard Melvin, Julia Sutherland, Sanjeev Kohli and Jo Caulfield, tells the story of Sam, who used to be a senior manager in a big bank. Now he works at home and his major challenges include two young children and a very unpredictable broadband connection.
Sitcom written by and starring Wendy Wason. Kat's moving in with her boyfriend Sam. Which is good. The only complications are Kat's two children. And her ex-husband. And the fact that Kat is 37 and Sam is 25. They're pretty confident it's going to be fine though.
Comedy by Simon Carlyle about St. Angus, one of the oldest golf clubs in Scotland. One of the oldest, perhaps, but certainly never regarded as one of the finest. That's about to change though (it's not) with the arrival of the new hospitality management tag team, Peter and Maggie Hughes.
Sitcom written by Colin McLaren. Fifty-year-old Dan is recently separated from his wife but they face each other every day as co-managers of the South Edinburgh branch of Carpet World. Dan's desperate to recapture his youth but the last time Dan was on the dating scene was in the pre-internet era, 30 years ago. Now he's back in the game but the game has changed. A lot.
Pilot written by Ashley Storrie. Ben always thought his dad's physical aversion to velvet and burgeoning biro collection was odd. Then he read a book on Asperger's syndrome and he's realised that what he thought was just bad parenting is actually a syndrome. Now he's determined to help his dad lead a 'normal' life.
Comedy created by Raymond Friel. It's the 1980s. Casey, a young computer programmer from Dundee, is trying to make video games but no one else has any idea how big this will become. Instead, he's stuck in his bedroom and is tormented by a family who don't understand.