BBC Radio Comedy Writers Bursary
The BBC Radio Comedy Writer's 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
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 Peter Baynham, Stewart Lee and Simon Blackwell (The Thick Of It, Veep).[3][4]
Duties of recipients
Under the current regime, those selected for the bursary work on BBC Radio 4's two high-profile topical shows; The News Quiz and The Now Show, 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
The names of the writers who have received the bursary are displayed on the wall outside the toilets at the BBC Radio Comedy office.[7]
- 1978: Rory McGrath, Jimmy Mulville, Guy Jenkin
- 1979: Rob Grant, Doug Naylor
- 1980: Jon Canter, Angus Deayton
- 1981: Scheme not run
- 1982: James Hendrie
- 1983: Roger Planer
- 1984: Jack Docherty, Moray Hunter
- 1985: Malcolm Williamson, Alan Whiting
- 1986: Stephen Punt
- 1987: Ged Parsons
- 1988: Simon Bullivant
- 1989: John O’Farrell, Mark Burton
- 1990: Peter Baynham
- 1991: Stewart Lee, Richard Herring
- 1992: Clive Coleman, Andy Riley, Kevin Cecil
- 1993: Rob Colley, Paul Powell
- 1994: Dan Gaster, Debbie Barham, Hugh Rycroft
- 1995: Will Ing, Kay Stonham
- 1996: Ben Ward, Dave Lamb, Tony Roche (writer)
- 1997: Felix Riley, Tom Jamieson
- 1998: Nev Fountain, Simon Blackwell
- 1999-2003: 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, Grainne Maguire[8]
- 2014: Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Max Davis
- 2015: Sarah Campbell, Liam Beirne[3]
References
- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ "BBC Radio Comedy writer's bursary". Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ "Radio Comedy Staff Writer | Jobs and careers with BBC". edmorrish.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2015-12-21.