Episode 102 - Insert Name Here
Part Two of James's interview with Will Ing, Dan Gaster and Paul Powell, the comedy writing team behind Insert Name Here, with great insights on how to make and write a panel show.
Jan 03, 2019•34 min
Sitcom Geeks
A podcast series for those interested in the mechanics of situation comedy. James Cary and Dave Cohen discuss the art of sitcom writing for TV and Radio.
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Episodes
Episode 101 - What Did We Learn In 2018?
Dave and James look back on 2018 and talk to kids' TV writer Joe Williams, Mark Evans (Bleak Expectations, Mitchell and Webb) and Writers' Guild online comedy nominee Hannah George about what they've learned this year, and what they hope to take into 2019.
Dec 27, 2018•48 min
Episode 100!
Dave and James bring up the ton with a live and lively chat from the Museum of Comedy with the brilliant Marcus Brigstocke and top writer Sarah Morgan, about their Radio 4 sitcom The Wilsons Save The World. Plus details on BCG Pro, British Comedy Guide's new service for those who create comedy.
Dec 20, 2018•1 hr 18 min
Episode 99 - Tiernan Douieb
Dave talks to stand-up, podcaster, kids' comedy pioneer Tiernan Douieb about juggling stand-up, podcasting and kids' comedy (but not juggling), and the dangers of spreading yourself too thin.
Dec 13, 2018•42 min
Episode 98 - Neil Forsyth
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Eric and Ernie. In this episode James talks to Neil Forsyth, writer of the brilliant Eric, Ernie And Me (as well as the great Bob Servant).
Dec 06, 2018•36 min
Episode 97 - The Complete Comedy Writer
Dave has got a book out! About comedy writing! Who better to interview him about it than James? Plus questions answered about theme tunes, building your world, audience v non audience, and where Chris left his keys.
Nov 29, 2018•43 min
Episode 96 - Al Murray (Part 2)
In this episode Al, Dave and James get all excited about one of the greatest sitcoms of all time - Fawlty Towers.
Nov 22, 2018•36 min
Episode 95 - Al Murray (Part 1)
Part one of an entertaining journey with comedy legend Al Murray around the joy of making audiences laugh out loud at proper funny jokes - The Windsors, Spitting Image, Time Gentlemen Please and... Game Of Thrones?
Nov 15, 2018•30 min
Episode 94 - Zapped
James talks to Dan Gaster, Will Ing and Paul Powell about the astonishingly long gestation period of their Dave sitcom, Zapped.
Nov 08, 2018•53 min
Episode 93 - Julie Bower
James chats to Julie Bower about watching Red Dwarf as a kid, quoting jokes in the school playground, the awfulness of conference calls, and creating the CBBC sitcom So Awkward. And we announce the recording of the 100th episode at The Museum of Comedy on 5th December.
Nov 01, 2018•47 min
Episode 92 - Tim Telling
Return of the Mash. It's back! Surprise TV hit of the year, The Mash Report, returns for a new series. Dave and James talk to Tim Telling, the man who brought internet newspaper The Daily Mash to life.
Oct 25, 2018•39 min
Episode 91 - Steven Moffat (Part 2)
Dave and James continue their chat with comedy writing legend Steven Moffat about time travelling on a budget, the triumph of Coupling and The Mystery Of Whether Or Not Sherlock Is A Comedy Or A Drama.
Oct 18, 2018•33 min
Episode 90 - Steven Moffat (Part 1)
Part one of a fascinating interview with the great Steven Moffat - one of our most successful writers whose work includes Sherlock, Coupling and a certain Doctor who he discusses with Dave and James.
Oct 11, 2018•41 min
Episode 89 - DIY Comedy
Dave and James talk about kickstarting - and continuing - your career by making comedy yourself, in all its forms. What are the options?
Sep 27, 2018•46 min
Episode 88 - Geoffrey McGivern
Dave and James talk to the brilliant character actor from both Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and Blackadder, Geoffrey McGivern. He has many years of experience, reading and performing the scripts that writers sweat over and has gathered many many anecdotes along the way.
Sep 13, 2018•42 min
Episode 87 - Is Bake Off A Sitcom?
Dave and James back from the summer with lots to report including the return of Newsjack, the great audience sitcom revival part 897 and several attempts to answer the impossible question: What is comedy drama?
Aug 30, 2018•54 min
Episode 86 - Saskia Schuster
Dave and James have a strangely therapeutic conversation with Saskia Schuster, Controller of Comedy at ITV; about how sitcoms get on to ITV and the agony of turning shows down. Apparently, it's painful for the commissioners too!
Aug 16, 2018•45 min
Episode 85 - Jonathan Ames
James talks down the line to top US comedy writer and novelist Jonathan Ames about the hilarious HBO series Bored To Death, being championed by David Letterman and... Are You Being Served?? Yep.
Aug 01, 2018•52 min
Episode 84 - Hayley McKenzie
'My job isn't to tell the writer how to be better, my job is to help them figure out what they want to write.' Plenty of excellent advice for ALL writers from top script consultant Hayley McKenzie of Script Angel.
Jul 19, 2018•48 min
Episode 83 - Lucien Young
An interview with comedy writer, Lucien Young (Siblings, Murder in Successville, Alice in Brexitland) about all things comedic, including the spec Frasier Script he wrote aged 11. Back his Shakespearean Sonnets book here: unbound.com/books/sonnets/
Jul 04, 2018•54 min
Episode 82 - Laurence Howarth
Dave and James chat to comedy writer, and performer, Laurence Howarth. He talks about writing the controversial Tracey Ullman Corbyn sketches, a sitcom about arms dealers, and how Dead Ringers feels very different from how it used to when politics was boring and you could still just about trust a bank.
Jun 21, 2018•45 min
Episode 81 - Dave Cohen Craft of Comedy Keynote Address
Dave Cohen flies the flag for studio sitcoms at the Craft of Comedy 2018 in Llandudno. He also invents a new word that might make you feel ill. Introduced by Steve Doherty.
Jun 18, 2018•26 min
Episode 80 - Jack Docherty
A fascinating hour spent in the company of the multi-talented writer-performer-producer and all round good guy who was one of the main creators behind Mr Don And Mr George, The Creatives and the legendary Stoneybridge Town Council.
Jun 14, 2018•1 hr 2 min
Episode 79 - Paul Merton (Part 2)
Dave and James discuss the magic of Tony Hancock and Steptoe And Son with Paul Merton, who talks about his great friendship with the brilliant creators of both those shows, writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
May 30, 2018•45 min
Episode 78 - Paul Merton (Part 1)
Dave and James talk to Paul Merton - one of Britain's comedy superstars - about silent movies, class, and his phenomenal 30 years at the top of the profession.
May 16, 2018•29 min
Episode 77 - John Finnemore (Part 2)
We're back with more John Finnemore talking about his Souvenir Programme, Mummo in Cabin Pressure and basking sharks. Recorded at the Bill Murray in Angel, Islington.
May 03, 2018•28 min
Episode 76 - John Finnemore (Part 1)
James and Dave talk to John Finnemore about Double Acts, Cabin Pressure and the Souvenir Programme at a live event and Patreon subscriber meet-up at the Bill Murray in Angel Islington.
Apr 19, 2018•27 min
Episode 75 - Words For Window
Just over a week to go before the BBC Writersroom Comedy window closes - still time (just) to craft your own comedy gold, with the help of James and Dave's last minute checklist.
Apr 05, 2018•42 min
Episode 74 - Craft Of Comedy Cometh
Steve Doherty talks to James and Dave about Llandudno Craft Of Comedy Festival in June - an amazing line-up, competitions to win and loads of good reasons why you'd be a fool to miss it.
Mar 29, 2018•45 min
Episode 73 - Writing Windows and Open Doors
Attention new writers! The BBC Comedy Script Window opens on 19 March 2018. Here's tonnes of useful writing tips from the people who'll be reading your scripts - Simon Nelson and Amanda Farley of BBC Writersroom.
Mar 15, 2018•58 min
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