BAFTA Awards 2023: Comedy writers interview

The BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2023 are due to be announced on Sunday 23rd April, with the 'Writer: Comedy' category featuring Big Boys creator Jack Rooke, Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee, The Dry's Nancy Harris and the Motherland team of Sharon Horgan, Barunka O'Shaughnessy, Helen Serafinowicz and Holly Walsh.

Ahead of the ceremony, we checked in with Jack Rooke, Lisa McGee, Nancy Harris and Holly Walsh to talk to them about being shortlisted.

Congratulations on the nomination. Where were you when you heard the news?

Holly: It was first thing in the morning, so I think I was probably in my kitchen making my kids porridge. Nice news to hear in your dressing gown.

Lisa: I was getting my kids ready for school / nursery when I got a text from our producer. So I was screaming " we've been Bafta nominated! / Will you PLEASE put your socks on!" simultaneously.

Nancy: Embarrassingly, I was still in bed. I'd been up late the night before and Paddy Breathnach, the director of The Dry, texted me 'congratulations' as did a few others, but they they didn't say for what, so I hadn't a clue it was for a BAFTA until I looked at Siobhan Cullen's (who plays Caroline in the show) instagram page. And she had it up there. It was still a few hours til I got the official email.

Jack: I was in bed and a friend called me at 7am to say I'd been nominated for a BAFTA and we had a little excited scream and then she checked the website some more and we counted it was 4 nominations and from that point onwards I laughed for about 6 minutes non-stop. Mostly because Big Boys got dropped and cancelled twice [in development] and it's so lovely for the cast, director Jim and producer Bertie to feel like our persistence and resilience came off in the end.

The stereotype of a writer is that they spend a lot of time by themselves in front of a computer. So do you enjoy awards ceremonies, getting dressed up and getting to socialise with others?

Holly: Ha, yes and no. I like getting dressed up, and seeing friends, but - truth be told - I'm still living a bit of a 'lock down' existence (elasticated trousers and box sets) so I haven't quite got used to going out-out.

Jack: I'll happily slap on some aftershave and go to a fancy doo. I still see myself as a comedian before being a traditional screenwriter so I'd rather take any excuse to not just be sat at home in my pants getting in another sad and lukewarm Uber Eats.

Nancy: To be honest, I'm quite a stereotypical writer in that I'm very introverted, and I do spend a lot of time in front of a computer, but I do love an excuse to get dressed up and get my hair blow dried. And right now it could really do with it!

Lisa: I love socialising with other writers because we don't get the chance to much. And by socialising I mean complaining about how difficult writing is or about the industry in general or the fact that nobody understands us.

Be honest, are you preparing a speech in your head, for if/when you win?

Nancy: No, god, that feels like very bad luck.

Jack: I know I will lose to Lisa McGee and Nicole Lecky probably, haha, so I'm just excited to go and have a laugh and celebrate with the team. I think my time will hopefully come where I get to make a big fancy speech but til then, I just wanna celebrate Series 1 and try to meet as many of The Traitors cast as possible.

Lisa: I am petrified of winning and forgetting to thank someone, so I do have a list of names ready to rhyme off. Beyond that I don't really prepare anything. It keeps things exciting. On the one hand I want to win because who doesn't want to win, on the other hand - if I do win my speech will probably be awful and I will humiliate myself publicly.

Holly: I am not in any way superstitious, but I never prepare a speech. Before the Baftas last year, I did write down a list of people to thank - which is just as well because we won.

The nominees in the comedy writing category have all made great shows. What do you think are the most important ingredients when it comes to a comedy script?

Jack: Characters!! And also loving those characters even when they're doing shitty or crappy things. You've gotta treat them like they're your kids. All the other nominated writers do that so perfectly and succinctly. It's such a wonderful nominee list to be in. It's basically gays and gals writing characters that wouldn't have been on telly 20 years ago, which is very cool.

Nancy: So much great comedy comes out of uncomfortable truths, so finding something that is deeply truthful and resonates with you in a deep way is important and then just finding the natural humour that comes out of that. The things that people don't want to say, but the audience are thinking. That and a rigorous editing process feel like important ingredients to a good comedy script.

Lisa: A strong voice and tone, the unique way the ideas are expressed. Great characters that people want to spend time with and really well crafted jokes.

Holly: It's an impossible question really, because often there's an alchemy between the script, the actors, the production and the audience that you cannot predict. But having said that, really strong consistent characters are probably the thing I love most in my favourite shows.

What tips/advice would you give to someone who is looking to write their own TV comedy?

Jack: Hmmmmm. I wouldn't advise it, haha. If I were to say any tips it would be to stick to your guns on what your vision is for something, whilst also knowing that compromise and broadening out the worlds of stuff is key to getting things made. It's a tricky balance but if you know what your story is rooted in then you'll be happy whatever happens.

Lisa: Lean into what is different and unique about you as a writer. Be ambitious with your ideas. Write lots, it's the only way to get better. Watch lots of comedy. Realise how important structure is. Be technical and precise with your dialogue.

Nancy: Watch all your favourite comedies over and over again shamelessly, until you know them off by heart and to try to figure out why you love them. Also this counts as 'research' and 'work' which is very handy.

Holly: Get to the end of the script. Doesn't matter if it's crap or not, get it done and print it out. It's an amazing achievement to finish a script - loads of people talk about writing and never do it, so to write something is a big deal.

What's next for you?

Nancy: I'm writing Season 2 of The Dry

Lisa: I'm working on a couple of new projects. One is a comedy thriller I'm very excited about. I love what I do, but it never gets any easier. If anything, I think it gets tougher. The standard of television writing is so ridiculously high at the minute, but I think that's a good thing, it's inspiring and motivating, it keeps me reaching.

Jack: I've gotta write an apology text to my mum who keeps shouting at me for not ringing her back. She doesn't understand we are about to film Series 2 and instead is demanding I help her return a online purchased dress to River Island. It's humbling stuff.