Sitcom Geeks

Dave and James welcome back the kings of DIY moviemaking Danny Stack and Tim Clague. Fresh from their triumphant week at the Cannes Film Festival, the UK Scriptwriters team talk about making your own shows, selling them abroad, and how to make a name for yourself even if you don't know anyone in the business.

Commissioners say they love them, they remain hugely popular, nobody's writing them. Surely the answer is obviously yes yes yes! Dave and James think so but be aware of the high risks - and you'll need to think creatively about pitching the idea.

In Part 2 of the interview, Ashley Pharoah, co-creator of Life On Mars, explains the eight years of development that preceded the hit drama, and how it literally involved bags of money. And entertains us with tales of his other top-rated shows and, ah, Bonekickers.

There most certainly was for Ashley Pharoah, who went on to co-create of Life On Mars, one of the best comic drama series of the last 20 years. In Part 1, he talks about breaking into the industry through writing for soaps and making his own stuff, including Where The Heart Is and Around The World In Eighty Days.

Writing topical jokes for radio is one of the fastest ways to build your credits and get to know producers. With The Skewer winning bucketloads of awards, Scotland's Breaking The News and now a new Radio 4 Extra show DMs Are Open, there's never been a better time to write topical comedy. Learn the secrets of successful gag writing from Dave and James, and regular topical writers Dan Sweryt and Ele...

Dave and James talk about... talking. How do you bring your comic conversations to life? What gets left out? How do you make it funny? And find out which hugely famous TV writer calls dialogue "the least important part of my job".

Creator of the great comedy monster Martin Fishback, Fergus Craig talks about his early love for Mr Bean, the Edinburgh hit double act of Fergus & Colin, and tries to persuade James that Reeves and Mortimer are the business. Watch the Martin Fishback pilot on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0014bxd/martin-fishback "Build A Sitcom" begins Friday 6 May. Email funnyup02@gmail.com...

Dave and James talk to Hat Trick boss Jimmy Mulville about his decades of phenomenal comedy success, developing new writing talent and why you should never send him a substandard script.

Part 2 of the advice-packed interview from Daniel Peak, one of our most successful sitcom creators. Code 404, Not Going Out - and he's not afraid to talk about the ones that got away. This week, Daniel heroically relives Big Top, an episode or six of what happens when a sitcom fails to please the Lords of TV Criticism.

...announced in this week's bonus episode. Dave and James discuss what made it onto the shortlist, how the quality of scripts has improved in recent years and why the future of narrative sitcom is hopefully assured. (And congratulations to Lloyd Glanville for the winning script Unsustainable). For show notes see https://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/sitcom_geeks/episode_188/

Part 1 of our deeply insightful natter with brilliant sitcom writer Danny Peak, regular writer on Not Going Out and creator of one of Sky's most popular comedies, Code 404.

James and Dave have read your Hat Trick Script Competition Scripts and here are the headlines: 1. It really is hard. 2. Thanks so much for sending them in. Oh and a few thoughts about mockumentaries, sociopaths and the language of sitcom scripts.

Currently one of our most successful comedy writers, Georgia Pritchett talks to Dave and James about the long road to success, working virtually in LA and making Armando laugh.

Dave reports back from his first two years of trying to become a novelist, and details the ups and downs of starting a new writing career. Warning: includes ignorance about the industry, misplaced arrogance and emotional attachment to worn out old ideas.

Work deep, build habits. Dave and James return from the break with great ideas to improve your writing productivity and increase fun. Plus a great new topical opportunity for 2022.

Make 2022 The Year Of The Comedy Writer. James and Dave offer a great guide for ensuring that next year is your best for writing yet. Includes hopes and goals, brutal frankness and the number one key to comedy writing success.

Still time to polish that Hat Trick sitcom script to perfection. In this episode we answer your last-minute queries. What's a self-contained episode? How do we introduce characters? How much rewriting should we do? How can we be sure you won't steal your ideas? (SPOILER: we won't)

The Hat Trick Sitcom Script competition window is now open. Brrr! You've got five weeks to bash that script into shape. Everyone talks about the first ten pages but how do you write the end? James and Dave explain why "it's not about the pumpkins."

Good news - TV's top comedy commissioners want the same as we do for our Hat Trick Sitcom Script Competition. Dave and James discuss Broadcast magazine's Commissioners Panel meet in which Channel 4, Sky and UKTV are all asking for broad, multi-generational, family-like sitcoms by new writers, and not a narrative arc in sight. Plus details of when to send us your scripts. And how to make the leap f...

You've got two months to write your script for our Hat Trick Sitcom Contest. In this episode Dave and James talk about the pros and cons of setting your sitcom at work, home, in outer space or the land of the fairies. Find out which settings are most likely to work for this particular competition.

Exciting news - today Sitcom Geeks launch our Sitcom Script Competition in association with the mighty Hat Trick and BCG Pro - with £1000 for the winning script. What we're looking for, what we're not looking for, why it's free to enter and what to do next, all discussed in breathless excited detail by James and Dave. Competition website: www.comedy.co.uk/hattrick

Stuart Goldsmith is a great stand-up and host of the superb long-running podcast examining what makes people funny. Great advice for freeing yourself up, going to Edinburgh "every show this year was a work in progress". And a searingly honest examination of his own favourite question "why aren't I more successful?".

Dave and James go deep into smelling the flowers, keeping perspective and learning to love Bill Gates - all of which can help you to become better comedy writers. Also exciting news about the autumn's topical shows The Skewer and Breaking The News.

Top comedy writing teachers Chris Head and Kay Stonham join Dave and James with great tips for how to develop your career. A big shout out for the solo comedy writers in this age of the comedy-performer, understanding there's room for everyone - plus The Joy Of Sketch, and the excellent 'Big hat little hat' theory of comedy writing.

You've created a great character - congratulations! Now all you need to do is create another, and another, and build your stories around them. This episode Dave and James delve deep into creating relationships between characters.