BBC Radio Comedy Writers Bursary
The BBC Radio Comedy Writers' Bursary (or the BBC Radio Comedy Department Contract Writer) is a scheme through which emerging comedy writers work in-house at the BBC Radio Comedy department for a year.[1]
History[edit]
The scheme began in 1978 and was devised by the then-head of Head of BBC Light Entertainment (Radio), David Hatch, and BBC Television's Head of Light Entertainment, James Gilbert. Each department put £5000 a year into a kitty to employ three young writers on a one-year contract. The only proviso was that there was to be no contract for a second year, and that the writers must then fend for themselves.[1] The first beneficiaries were Rory McGrath, Jimmy Mulville and Guy Jenkin, who were followed by Rob Grant, Doug Naylor (Red Dwarf).[1][2] Since then, the scheme has helped several aspiring or part-time writers to go full-time and has produced a great number of professional writers and comedians, including John O'Farrell, Peter Baynham, Stewart Lee and Simon Blackwell (The Thick Of It, Veep).[3][4]
Duties of recipients[edit]
Under the current regime, those selected for the bursary work on BBC Radio 4's three high-profile topical shows; The News Quiz, The Now Show and Dead Ringers, contribute writing across the range of the BBC Radio Comedy Department's output[5] as well as script-editing sketch-shows and sitcoms. Bursary recipients are also encouraged to develop new formats and create their own shows.[6]
List of recipients[edit]
- 1978: Rory McGrath, Jimmy Mulville, Guy Jenkin
- 1979: Rob Grant, Doug Naylor, Martin Bergman
- 1980: Jon Canter, Angus Deayton, Tony Sarchet
- 1981: Scheme not run
- 1982: James Hendrie, Eddie Canfor-Dumas, David Jackson Young
- 1983: John Collee, Roger Planer
- 1984: Jack Docherty, Moray Hunter
- 1985: Malcolm Williamson, Stuart Silver, Alan Whiting
- 1986: Stephen Punt, David Bond, Paul Hawksbee
- 1987: Mike Coleman, Bill Matthews, Ged Parsons, Les Peters Rowley
- 1988: John O’Farrell, Mark Burton
- 1989: Peter Kerry, Simon Bullivant, Mark Brisenden
- 1990: Peter Baynham, Barry Atkins
- 1991: Robert Steele, Julian Dutton, Richard Herring, Stewart Lee
- 1992: Clive Coleman, Andy Riley, Kevin Cecil
- 1993: Rob Colley, Millie Murray, Paul Powell, Georgia Pritchett
- 1994: Dan Gaster, Andrew Clifford, Debbie Barham, Hugh Rycroft
- 1995: Will Ing, Kay Stonham
- 1996: Ben Ward, Dave Lamb, Tony Roche
- 1997: Felix Riley, Tom Jamieson
- 1998: Nev Fountain, Simon Blackwell
- 1999: Jon Holmes, Andy Hurst
- 2001-2003: Scheme not run
- 2004: Rhodri Crooks, Paul Kerensa
- 2005-2006: Scheme not run
- 2007: Danielle Ward, Kieron Quirke
- 2008: James Sherwood, Stephen Carlin
- 2009: Gareth Gwynn, John-Luke Roberts
- 2010: Jon Hunter, James Kettle
- 2011: Benjamin Partridge, Andy Wolton
- 2012: Jack Bernhardt, Tom Neenan
- 2013: James Bugg, Gráinne Maguire[7]
- 2014: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Max Davis
- 2015: Sarah Campbell, Liam Beirne[3]
- 2016: Robin Morgan, Jenny Laville
- 2017: Laura Major, Mike Shephard
- 2018: Kat Sadler, Catherine Brinkworth
- 2019: Simon Alcock, Charlie Dinkin
- 2020: Tasha Dhanraj, Rajiv Karia
- 2022: Cameron Loxdale, Jade Gebbie
- 2023: Cody Dahler, Kate Dehnert[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Took, Barry (1981). Laughter In The Air. London: Robson Books. p. 175. ISBN 0 86051 149 9.
- ^ "Biography 2". www.robgrant.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ a b "Sarah Campbell and Liam Beirne new BBC Radio Contract Writers - Make It - British Comedy Guide". www.comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "Danielle Ward". Such Small Portions. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "Don't mind your Ps & Qs: Gareth Gwynn". walesonline. Western Mail. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "Radio Comedy Staff Writer | Jobs and careers with BBC". careerssearch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "Radio Comedy Staff Writer | Jobs and careers with BBC". edmorrish.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "BBC Studios Audio adds new comedy Contract Writers and producers". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-03-19.