Staff Writer (Comedy)

Are you a new and developing writer with a passion for jokes? Do you aspire to a full-time career in comedy with the dream of creating the next big hit sitcom, sketch show or comedy entertainment format? Then this is the position for you.

This is an opportunity to join the award-winning Audio team at BBC Studios Comedy. We make a wide variety of programmes including comedy podcasts, radio panel shows, sitcoms and comedy entertainment formats. We champion the work of new and emerging talent as well as working with some of the all-time greats.

We make about 150 hours of radio and podcasts a year. For Radio 4 our shows include The News Quiz, Just a Minute, Mark Steel’s In Town, Sarah Keyworth: Are You a Boy or a Girl, Daliso Chaponda’s Citizen of Nowhere, Nature Table with Sue Perkins, Dead Ringers, Ken Cheng: I Can School You, DMs are Open and many many more.

Our podcast portfolio includes Inside Inside no. 9, Bang on It and Doctor Who: Redacted for BBC Sounds and Sorted with the Dyers and Rose and Rosie: Parental Guidance for Spotify.

This role also provides the opportunity to work closely with TV producer colleagues in the wider BBC Studios Comedy team – after all this is the department that has over the years seen Little Britain, Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop, The League of Gentlemen and Ladhood make the transition from radio to TV!

Main Responsibilities

This is an entry level job for someone at the start of a promising career in writing comedy. The staff writers work closely with producers and contribute to scripts across the output of the department as needed. They write funny content for all types of shows, from links for the hosts of panel shows to satirical one-liners and sketches for topical shows like The News Quiz, The Now Show, Dead Ringers and DMs are Open.

They help producers to develop ideas for new formats, help with story structure in sitcoms and punch up scripts with extra jokes. The staff writers also work on their own narrative and sketch ideas during the 12 month contract, and by the end of the year with support from producers in the team, we hope to be pitching their ideas to commissioners.

If you love comedy and are brimming with ideas you want to get made, this is your dream job!

Key Responsibilities

To write for any of our shows as required; we produce a wide of variety of formats and styles. You’ll be a versatile writer who can create one-liners, host links, sketches, narrative and more.
To contribute as required to long-running topical series like News Quiz and Now Show, working to tight deadlines
To script edit sketch and narrative comedy shows
To write to a brief set by a producer or another writer
To contribute to idea generating sessions
To work in a team and also independently
To develop scripted and non-scripted podcast ideas for development
To write on behalf of the BBC Studios Audio Comedy social media accounts
To write trails and promotional material
To be fully aware of the Health and Safety responsibilities of this job role as stated in the department’s Health and Safety Policy and always act responsibly when working on productions
To comply with the BBC’s policies on Diversity and Inclusion

Are you the right candidate?

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

At least two professional credits that are not just one-liners. These could reflect any work you have had produced including podcast, short film, online or on stage as well as radio and TV credits
A good knowledge of comedy and a passion for both the comedy world and writing comedy
The ability to work with our performers and writers, creating material that showcases them at their best
The drive to be a self-starter who is able to instigate projects and take an active role in their development
The desire to make new contacts and to be confident in networking around the office and at wider industry events
The ability to write to a brief set by others and to write in other people’s voices
The ability to treat colleagues with respect and inclusivity and to support and encourage others
Good communication skills with a talent for expressing all issues and ideas clearly and concisely
The ability to produce original, imaginative ideas that are well written and funny
The capacity to originate and develop original ideas, working to notes and briefs from commissioners
The skill of thinking ahead in order to plan and prioritise work and ensure meetings are attended on time and agreed deadlines met