James and Dave talk more about the scripts from the BCG Pro competition, with some more thoughts on getting the story going, how story is character (saving you a fortune in Robert McKeen seminars) and when talking under your breath is funny, and when it isn't.
While you were eating and sleeping your way through the holidays Dave and James were reading your script entries to the BCG Pro Sitcom Geeks Script Challenge - all 65 of them. Ahead of announcing the final shortlist they discuss what they've learned. Essential listening if you want to enter this year's BBC Writersroom Script Competition.
'My act is like putting a cartoon in someone's head.' Dave and James enjoy a fascinating session in the company of one of the country's top comedians, ahead of his biggest live tour in years.
Four comedy writers walk into a bar. Ahead of the comedy writers' Christmas Party, Dave chats with NFTS comedy graduate Sara Gibbs, improv superstar Pippa Evans and writing legend Paul Bassett Davies about women in writing rooms, the changing definitions of sitcom, Stephen King and Dolly Parton. Summing up: Yes it's still tough, but the opportunities are still there.
This episode Dave and James ask what's the difference between character and characters, story and stories, stand-up and acting? (Spoiler - it's not 8 quid). Also not to be missed - James's theory that all sitcoms are like biscuits. Nice.
Dave and James revisit the dos and don'ts of plotting, adding sparkle to your stories, with added jeopardy for comedy drama fans.
Here's plenty of valuable last-minute tips from James and Dave before you send your script out to a producer or competition. And don't worry if you miss the Sitcom Geeks Script Competition deadline - the next BBC Writersroom deadline is closer than you think.
With the November 17 deadline approaching for the Sitcom Script Challenge, Dave and James talk about extracting maximum mileage from your characters. Spoiler alert: they don't have to be likeable.
It's half of our name but we don't talk often enough about the situation. Dave and James talk to producer David Tyler (Cabin Pressure, Dinnerladies, Milton Jones and loads more) about what makes a good sit, plus James's chapter on this from Writing That Sitcom.
Dave and James look at the recent Emmy successes for British shows Fleabag and Succession, and talk about what makes a successful career, and why overnight success can be years in the making.
James talks to Cole Moreton, multi-tasking multi-talented writer/author/journalist about books, the Krays, and writing tips from Jeffrey Archer. Dave chimes in helpfully with a list of rock stars called Colin.
Back to school as Dave and James update the complete guide for writing the best sitcom script. Plus news of an exciting new competition for all aspiring sitcom writers.
James wrote a script, Dave read eight novels thanks to not having WiFi and now they're ready to guide you through the start of a new term and a new season of comedy writing.
"The show is the cheap and easy bit, the accommodation is the nightmare" - Dave and James discuss the true cost of Edinburgh; plus selling yourself, revisiting what type of writer you are, and in praise of Gary Delaney the Human Joke Machine.
With the Edinburgh Fringe about to start, could this be the festival where the rest of you discover Anna Nicholson, whose Woman Of The Year show won best comedy at the recent Adelaide Festival. James talks to Anna about the leap required from festival regular to solo performer. Includes a love letter to the great live topical show NewsRevue, 40 years old this summer.
Whether you have a day, an hour, or five minutes waiting for the bus to spare, Dave and James offer lots of practical advice on how best to use your time. Plus news of a great comedy script contest this autumn, and shows with Good in the title. Easily your most efficient use of 46 minutes and 10 seconds.
This week James and Dave discuss improvisation, how to make dialogue sound like what real people talk like, like, and women in comedy writing rooms.
Ever thought: "I've had a great idea for a sitcom"? Then wondered what to do next? Dave and James are creating an entire sitcom before your ears - and in this episode they explain how they plan to journey from "I've had a great idea" to "Welcome to Episode One."
Live from the Leicester Comedy Festival, Dave and James discuss writing and performing and the trials, tribulations bitching and loneliness of the long distance stand-up with Dan Evans, Joe Bor, MJ Simpson and Sarah Johnson.
Dave and James catch up, slightly breathless, on the feast of narrative comedy from across the entire range of TV channels since March. There's more twists to the ongoing comedy drama plot, post Writersroom script advice, and the answer to that question you're always asking - how do I get an agent?
Dave and James sit down for a nice long chat with BBC Executive Producer Gareth Edwards who's managed to steer the ship on Upstart Crow, Still Open All Hours and Spaced. Yes. Spaced. I know, right? Lots of good advice here, including two rules about notes.
Dave and James talk about how you can buff up your script so it's ready to send off to someone important. They also talk a bit about residuals and royalties - and Dave uses this to try to convince James about the benefits of the EU. James unsurprisingly isn't buying it.
A fabulous hour spent in the company of the undisputed kings of narrative TV comedy, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais - Likely Lads, German building sites, American TV and the shows they wished they had written. The Likely Lads is available on DVD and Blu-ray from networkonair.com
James and Dave talk about what we learn from all the new comedy that's tumbling out of our tellies, the BBC Writersroom window, writing books, self-publishing and London Book Fair. Rufus Jones is also declared an Ian Botham of Comedy and Derry Girls a Costume Comedy.
You may have missed this item in the news, but apparently something called Brexit is about to happen. James is detained entertainingly with the team behind the unlikely Northern Ireland Brexit TV hit Soft Border Patrol - producer Marie McDonald, writer Marc McElroy and performer Alan Irwin.
Bonus episode, in which Dave and James catch up with the latest comedy news. Will we have to wait for Coronation Street to finish before ITV commission any more comedy? Is it curtains for comedy writer conferences? And are you all set for this year's BBC Writersroom window for comedy scripts? Plus, how to approach radio sitcom, writing one-liners, and lots more.
Top British novelist and audience sitcom connoisseur Jonathan Coe talks to James and Dave at Chortle Book Festival about 1970s sitcom books, Yes Minister, working with Clement and Le Frenais, and, when we can get him off the subject of sitcom, his brilliant new novel Middle England.
Dave and James talk to writer and producer Paul Mayhew-Archer, about his massive four-decade career making audience sitcoms: shows he co-wrote that went well, like The Vicar Of Dibley, shows he helped onto the screen that didn't go so well, like Chalk and 'Orrible. Paul also shares a wealth of advice and experience as well as a lovely story about a man trying his hand at comedy and then drama.
Today's special guest is none other than James Cary. Well he has a great new book out called The Sacred Art of Joking and it offers a fresh perspective on the evergreen topic of causing offence in comedy. Find out what makes people get angry at comedy, why Jesus was funny and listen to the rare sound of James and Dave disagreeing with each other.
Dave and James talk to Moose Allain, otherwise known as the most consistently funny man on Twitter @MooseAllain about jokes, cartoons and Twitter (of course).
