BBC Salford Sitcom Showcase 2015 programme revealed
The BBC has announced its plans for The Salford Sitcom Showcase 2015, with screenings including Funz And Gamez and Fishbowl.
Now in its fourth year, the BBC describes the event as "a key part of the commissioning landscape for comedy in the North".
Previous TV shows to have been developed as part of the event include Hebburn and Citizen Khan, whilst Boy Meets Girl, which was screened at the festival last year, is due to launch as a series on BBC Two soon.
This year's event is due to take place in Salford's MediaCityUK complex on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th May. The Salford Sitcom Showcase 2015 will feature screened pilots, theatrical performances, workshops, masterclasses and panel discussions.
Shane Allen, BBC Controller of Comedy, says: "This is a crucial breeding ground for bringing through the very best in new writing and performing comedy talent. It's invaluable to have the live audience tell us what appeals and what they'd like to see more of. The northern comedy legacy remains vital to the BBC as evidenced by the forthcoming Peter Kay's Car Share."
Peter Salmon, Director BBC England, adds: "It's great to unveil another fun-filled Salford Sitcom Showcase. We knew it was a good thing when we started it up and I'm chuffed that it is already becoming a firm fixture in the BBC North calendar - it's what we are all about, discovering new ideas, forging partnerships, looking for new business and creating platforms to celebrate the very best of our talent, as well as seeking out new stars and creating opportunities to showcase the very best of a vibrant region."
Helen Spencer, the Creative Director behind the event, comments: "We are really looking forward to showcasing some of the best talent from across the North. The showcase is a pivotal point of the BBC's year round work to support and nurture talent from across the UK. It continues to build a reputation as the place to have work seen by BBC Comedy Commissioners and Channel Controllers. It provides a fantastic platform for writers and performers to flex their funny bones in front of BBC commissioners and controllers who will join us, along with local audiences, to have a really good laugh!"
The line-up for the Salford Sitcom Showcase 2015 is as follows. Free tickets are available for these events via the BBC Tickets Website
A screened pilot of Funz And Gamez, the comedy format created by Phil Ellis. The TV programme has been developed from the cult hit Edinburgh Festival show, which scooped the prestigious Foster's panel prize last year. The BBC says: "Now, the family show has been made into a unique TV comedy game show and North West audiences will be treated to the debut screening of the pilot." Phil Ellis, Mick Ferry, James Meehan and Will Duggan make up the cast.
A live theatrical performance of Barbara Nice, written by Janice Connolly and Dave Spikey. The BBC says: "This energetic, laugh-out-loud show is fronted by the power-house performer/writer Janice Connolly as her longstanding, nationally acclaimed stand-up character Barbara Nice."
A screened pilot of Fishbowl, written by Andrew Mettam and filmed by Inbetweeners producers Bwark Productions.
After Hattie's disastrous first term at university her parents decide it's probably best to bring her home to Yorkshire to recover: home to suffocating parental love, unwanted childhood admirers, overbearing neighbours and the utter impossibility of escape.
The cast features Mark Benton, Sally Lindsay, Katherine Rose Morley, Michael Smiley, Felicity Montagu, Edward Ashley, Alice Hewkin and Harry Mett.
Character Comedy Showcase
Live performances from some of the UK's hottest character comedians, including Gemma Whelan (as Chastity Butterworth), Lucy Beaumont, Daisy Cooper (as Kerry) and Elis James and Joseph Morpurgo performing multiple characters.
BBC Writers room and Salford University events
BBC Writersroom is also putting on a series of workshops, talks, masterclasses and panel discussions as part of the Showcase. The aim is to cover all aspects of comedy, from writing through to commissioning. Tickets to the events, which will take place at Salford University, will be allocated on a first come first served basis. They'll be available from the Writersroom website
Separately, Salford University is putting on a conference day titled The Salford Comedy Symposium, which has the aim of "considering the processes of documenting comedy".