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Podcast: Comedy
Episode:

The joy of sketch
Category: Arts
Duration: 00:30:26
Publish Date: 2014-10-22 14:29:00
Description: The Craft of Comedy conference, held in Llandudno, North Wales on 22 February 2014, was aimed at people looking to get into the comedy business. In this master class from the conference, John Finnemore, creator and writer of John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme and Cabin Pressure talks to BBC Radio Comedy producer Colin Anderson about radio sketch writing. He talks about how he made it as a sketch writer and gives his advice to fledgling comedy writers. Having done his fair share of low-profile comedy gigs, John recommends that stand up comedy is a good training ground. Whether at a students’ union or a room above a local pub, this is your chance to find out what works and whether your sketches will stand up or fall flat in front of an audience. As John puts it, you need to perform your sketches live “to find out where the laughs are.” Sketch writing is easier to get into than trying to pitch a whole sitcom series to a radio show. A sketch may only be a couple of minutes, but once it’s been accepted, you can quickly build your relationship with that broadcaster. With the growth of open door radio shows such as The Show What You Wrote and Newsjack, it’s easier than ever for budding sketch writers to approach programme-makers and see results. John describes how best to pitch to these shows, which both accept submissions from completely new writers. John advises writers to keep their sketches short. Familiarise yourself with the style and cast of a show, avoid racist, sexist or violent content and remember to always include a punchline. The more you can become known as a promising writer the more useful feedback you will get from programme makers to help improve your work. John also encourages sketch writers to keep notebooks with them at all times and to never throw an idea away – you can always improve upon it later. Find out what writing routine works best for you, whether that means writing at 6am or 8pm. He also says that although comedy sketch show producers do get sent a lot of submissions, very few of them are usable, so good writers will stand out straight away - “the competition isn’t as daunting as you might think.” John Finnemore is a comedy writer for BBC Radio 4 Extra’s airline-themed sitcom Cabin Pressure, as well as the Radio Academy award winning sketch show John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme. He has also written for That Mitchell & Webb Look, Dead Ringers and The Now Show. Colin Anderson graduated from the BBC’s programme-making trainee scheme to become a producer for BBC Comedy. He has produced sketch shows for various BBC Radio stations, as well as the comedy series Josie Long: All of The Planet‘s Wonders and The Maltby Collection. He has won Radio Academy Awards for The Now Show and Mark Thomas: My Life In Serious Organised Crime.
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