BBC Radio Entertainment Writer's Newsletter

May 2003

SONY RADIO ACADEMY AWARDS

At the Grosvenor House Hotel on Thursday 8 May JUST A MINUTE won Gold in the Comedy Award category and LITTLE BRITAIN won Silver (after also being nominated in 2002).

RADIO 4 AUTUMN COMMISSIONING ROUND OPPORTUNITIES

Because Radio Entertainment offered less than our full quota of series for the 1130 slot in Radio 4's recent spring offers round, there'll be room for extra offers in the autumn round. If you thought 1130 was reserved for 'gentle' narrative comedy, think again. Series such as ELEPHANTS TO CATCH EELS, GETTING NOWHERE FAST and ROBIN AND WENDY'S WET WEEKEND have given the slot a much livelier sound, and for the right series there is always the chance of a transfer to 1830. If you have ideas for the Tuesday 1130 archive slot, there are opportunities there too.

Although we only have access to a few Afternoon Play slots, it might be worth considering not only for that single piece you're itching to write, but also as a one-off 'taster' for a narrative comedy series you want to develop. This process worked for Jim Sweeney's play DANNY'S WAKE, which Jim then adapted into ALL THE YOUNG DUDES. Before you get stuck into it, though, do seek the advice of a Radio Entertainment producer.

PARSONS & NAYLOR'S PULL OUT SECTIONS

The fifth series of Radio 2's PARSONS & NAYLOR'S PULL-OUT SECTIONS will start recording in July. If you are interested in submitting sketches and topicals, the advice of the production team is: please do.

Andy Parsons and Henry Naylor rifle through every aspect of the past seven days: from news and reviews to food and gossip, bringing a combination of cheerful anarchy and imaginative satire to Radio 2's Thursday evening and hugely popular Saturday lunchtime repeat. It's a chatty, daft sketch and character show, based on those forty-three separate sections that fall out of your paper on the way back from the newsagent.

PULL-OUT SECTIONS has a very distinctive style, so there's absolutely no point in submitting sketches unless you've heard the show. Also, although there is character comedy, it is not an impressions show.

If you are familiar with the show, start writing now, because the series will be preceded by three warm-up shows on 18 June and 2 and 16 July at Infinity, 10 Old Burlington Street, London W1 (doors 7.30pm). This is an opportunity to try out new sketches and formats. Tickets and information are available from the Laughing Club (tel. 020 8286 9032) or via their website (laughingclub.co.uk).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/

The hi-tech bods doing their html thing at the Writers Room have told us that they're planning several events in London and around the country across the summer. Full details will be posted on the web page as soon as they're available. You can sign up for the Writers Room mailing list when you visit the site too.

If you haven't looked at the Writers Room website yet, don't submit anything you've written until you have, because it's essential to follow the step-by-step guidelines laid out there. They're there to help new writers and to save everyone a lot of heartache and wasted time.

DEBBIE BARHAM

There'll be a Radio 4 feature celebrating Debbie's comic talent and her inspirational role as a radio writer at 1130 on Tuesday 15 July. Debbie was a very funny, very rude writer, who worked with us in Radio Entertainment from the start of her career. We're going to miss you, Debs.

GOING TO GLASTONBURY THIS YEAR?

Well, so is Radio Entertainment. We're collaring the Comedy Tent between 4 and 6pm each day. You can hear the edited/censored highlights on Radio 4 on Tuesday 1 and 8 July. FOUR IN A FIELD will be brought to you by Arthur Smith, who'll be experiencing Glastonbury for the very first time.

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

It's common sense this, but just in case you need reminding, BBC Radio listeners don't like rude words and, consequently, nor do the people who run the networks. The same goes for terms of racial abuse, those that are abusive to women (eg slag), abuse against people with disabilities and against religious beliefs. Some words and expressions are borderline, and whether they are acceptable or not depends on tone and context, but the watchword is: if in doubt, ask a producer. And never forget that a character exclaiming 'Christ!' is guaranteed to get the duty log phone line ringing.

FINDING A PRODUCER ON YOUR WAVELENGTH

If you've tried to get something commissioned on BBC Radio, you'll know that finding a producer or broadcast assistant who believes in your work, has contact with programme commissioners and is prepared to go to bat on your behalf, makes a crucial difference. The ideal association is with someone who shares your sense of humour, so listen to the credits at the end of any programme that really makes you laugh and make a note of the producer's name. Then when you're ready to submit something, you'll a) know who to send it to, and b) be able to tell him or her how funny you thought their show was, which is a sure way of getting them on your side.

Radio 4 comedy shows are broadcast at 1130 and 1830 Monday-Friday, 2300/2315 Tuesday-Thursday, and at 1230 on Saturday and 1200 on Sunday. Radio 2's comedy hour is one o'clock on Saturday.

Besides these slots, the digital station BBC7 is a great source of archive comedy, and in July will air its first wholly originated series, SPANKING NEW, produced by Radio Entertainment's three newest producers - Tilusha Ghelani, Katie Marsden and Ed Morrish. Featuring the best new stand-ups on the circuit, it will go out on Mondays at 2300. The line-up is:

7 July: Alex Horne, Seymour Mace, Cole Parker, Miles Jupp.
14 July: Janet Meredith, Chris Corcoran, Natalie Haynes, Howard Read. .
21 July: Nat Coombs, Shappi Khorsandi, Hils Barker, Matthew Osbourn. .
28 July: Paddy Lennox, Vicky Frango, Mark Watson, Greg Davies. .
4 August: Andy White, Jarred Christmas, Paul Kerensa, Sarah Kendall. .
11 August: Ronak Mashru, Marek Larwood, Rhod Gilbert, Stafano Paolini. .
18 August: Tim Key, Alun Cochrane, Karen Cockfield, Andy Zaltzman.

Come and see our shows being recorded. If you like the show, tell the producer afterwards and introduce yourself to the broadcast assistant. Tickets are free, so ring the BBC Ticketline on 020 8576 1227 (or email radio.ticket.unit@bbc.co.uk). Here are some upcoming recordings:

RIGOR MORTIS

A brand new sitcom starring Peter Davison, Tracy Ann Oberman and Geoffrey Whitehead, about the attempts of three pathologists to live happy, normal and well adjusted lives in an atmosphere of death, decay and genuinely unpleasant smells. Like SILENT WITNESS, only slightly less ridiculous Written by Laurence Howarth, writer of DEAD RINGERS and THE SUNDAY FORMAT. 21, 23 May and 4, 6 June in The Drill Hall (Chenies St, London W1) Doors open 7.15pm and recording starts at 7.30pm Producer: Dawn Ellis; Broadcast Assistant: Ann Osborne

THE CONSULTANTS

The winners of the 2002 Perrier best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Festival have already been described by The Sunday Times as 'witty', The Mail On Sunday calls them 'promising' and we like to think of them as 'stupid… in a bright sort of way.' 7, 14, 21 July in The Drill Hall Doors open 7.15pm and recording starts at 7.30pm Producer: Will Saunders; BA: Claire Bartlett

THE HUDSON AND PEPPERDINE SHOW

The long-awaited return of Hudson and Pepperdine is long-awaited no more. They're back on Radio 4. 'The lazy may compare them to French and Saunders... but they are closer to Morecombe and Wise. Hudson and Pepperdine are, quite simply, good fun.' (The Sunday Times) Wednesday 28 May in The Drill Hall Doors open 7.15pm and recording starts 7.30pm Producer: Chris Neill; BA: Elaine Wigley

BRAIN OF BRITAIN

Return of the venerable battle of general knowledge where 48 contestants vie for the coveted title, challenged by Robert Robinson's quips. Recording: 3, 10, 17, 24 June in The Drill Hall Doors open 6.00pm and recording starts 6.15pm Producer: Richard Edis; BA: Maureen Trotman

JUST A MINUTE

Join chairman Nicholas Parsons as he attempts to control four contenders aiming to talk for sixty seconds without hesitation, repetition or deviation. Recording: 2 June in The Drill Hall Doors open 7.15pm and recording starts 7.30pm Producer: Claire Jones; BA: Janet Staplehurst

THE VERY WORLD OF MILTON JONES

Back for a triumphant new series, Milton Jones returns to the Radio Theatre with the Sony Award-winning show, a new format, a fully-working cast and a fat lot of new jokes. Booking early recommended. 25, 27 June, 2, 4 ,9 11 July at 7.45pm in The Drill Hall Producer: David Tyler (independent Pozzitive production)

THE NEWS QUIZ

Whoever said 'No news is good news' was talking rubbish. Join Simon Hoggart, Alan Coren, Linda Smith, Jeremy Hardy, Andy Hamilton, Francis Wheen and special guests as they frolic in what The Times recently heralded 'the cleverest, wittiest, best programme in any medium in the history of the world ever.' Thursdays 22, 29 May, 5, 12, 19 and 26 June in The Drill Hall Doors open 7.15pm and recording starts 7.30pm Thursday 3 July in the Blackpool Grand Theatre Producer: Simon Nicholls; BA: Marijke Good

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Return of the quiz devoted to questions about Parliament, parliamentarians and all things Westminster – order is most certainly not guaranteed. Chairman Steve Richards will try to control regulars Roy Hattersley and Sir Patrick Cormack MP, and guests including Lord Kenneth Baker, John Bercow MP, Anne McElvoy, Elinor Goodman and Michael Brown. 2, 9, 24 June at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Doors open 7.15pm and recording starts 7.30pm Producer: Ed Morrish BA Charlotte Davies

COMPARE YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR

Here are some random lists of TV shows that make people round here laugh. (If we'd asked for radio shows, they'd only have listed the ones they work on!)

Adam Bromley – Producer
Favourite TV comedy programmes from the past 12 months: Phoenix Nights
Everything else was crap, except for The Office, which was fab. But it made me squirm too much.
Five favourite sitcoms of all time: Frasier - Larry Sanders - Fawlty Towers - I'm Alan Partridge - Heil Honey I'm Home

Sarah Wright – Radio Administrator
3 favourite comedy programmes on TV from the past 12 months: Marion and Geoff - The Simpsons - Ali G
5 favourite sitcoms of all time Friends - The Simpsons – Frasier - The Office - Only Fools and Horses

Lucy Armitage – Producer
Funny telly from the past year My Family (Kris Marshall & Robert Lindsay, basically) - Shooting Stars - Coupling
All time favourite sitcoms Wallace and Gromit (all 3 episodes) - The Young Ones - Citizen Smith Fawlty Towers – The Clangers

Alex Abrahams – BA
Favourite comedy progs from the past 12 months The Office – Coupling - Will and Grace
Fave Sitcoms: Fawlty Towers - Only Fools and Horses - Keeping up Appearances

Simon Nicholls – Producer
Best funny telly from the last 12 months: Curb Your Enthusiasm (BBC4 Larry David show) – Frasier - Shooting Stars
5 favourite sitcoms: Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin – Porridge – Cheers – Taxi - Fawlty Towers

Liana Ross - Administration Assistant
Best funny telly from the past 12 months: Rock Profiles - Dave Gorman's Important Astrology Experiment - Phoenix Nights - League of Gentlemen
Favourite TV sitcoms of all time Only Fools and Horses - Last of the Summer Wine - Frasier (sorry I really like it) The Simpsons - Southpark

Ed Morrish – Producer
Best funny TV from the past 12 months: The Office - We Are History - Scrubs
All-time favourite TV sitcoms: Seinfeld - Larry Sanders - The Simpsons - Steptoe & Son - League Of Gentlemen (series 2)

BROADCAST ASSISTANTS (BAs)

Don't forget, it's not just producers who can help you out. The Radio Entertainment BAs have a fantastic sense of humour. They're often better listeners, often quicker readers, and always more cunning than producers.

You'll find them in room 5364 at Broadcasting House, at the Christmas Party, and in venues and bars around Edinburgh throughout August. They're gorgeous, and – once spotted - very approachable. With the help of Charlotte Davies and Alex Abrahams, here are some top tips on how to endear yourself to a Radio Entertainment BA:

YOUR SCRIPT

1. Always type your script in one-and-a-half line spacing
2. Type the character's name on the left hand side of the script and use an
3. indent for their speech (as it appears here: indented text is like using the tab key on every line). Use font size 12 and an easy-to-read font.
4. Underline all Sound FX and Music
5. Write some gags. Always useful.
6. Check you've got no spelling mistakes!

YOU

1. Follow up your script with a call to the BA. Be nice to us. Establish a link with BAs and we'll always put in a good word for you.
2. If you've got any comedy shows you want us to see, we'd love to come and watch, so please make sure you invite us.
3. Make sure when you win a Sony Award for your show that you always invite your BA!

THE COMMISSIONERS

You've probably seen these before, but don't forget the golden rules from Helen Boaden, Controller of BBC Radio 4 (Sony Radio Academy Award-winning Station Of The Year 2003 - and that's official)

• Do listen across the network - not just to the comedy shows. This will give you a sense of the depth and breadth of Radio 4 and what interests our audiences.
• The Radio 4 audience is sophisticated, educated and literate. They love wit and sharp social observation especially about their own lives - which are more diverse than you might expect. They dislike Viz-type humour and the very surreal. If you want more information about our audience, a producer can get it for you from Gateway, the BBC's internal communication system.
• Be aware of what the network wants in terms of new formats. Talk to a Radio Entertainment producer about what is and is not required, what is and is not possible.
• We struggle to invent good, new panel games. Don't be shy about offering ideas in this extremely difficult area.

BBC Radio Entertainment May 2003