Co-Ventures Announced to Support Comedy Sector In Scotland

BBC Comedy, BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland have announced that they will co-fund a new narrative comedy pilot to be produced in Scotland and featuring Scottish talent. 

This follows a similar pilot opportunity last year which has subsequently led to the series commission of Only Child from Happy Tramp North, written by Bryce Hart and starring Gregor Fisher and Greg McHugh. The series is supported by Screen Scotland.

At the BBC Comedy Festival, taking place in Glasgow today, it was announced that BBC Comedy and Screen Scotland will also co-fund two new Development Producer placements which will be based with two established comedy production companies for a year. This is with the aim of deepening the talent base in this key area of liaison between the creative community and the production sector.

Screen Scotland will also support a ringfenced place for a Scotland-based talent to join the next cohort of the BBC’s Comedy Collective.

Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC says: “Scotland boasts some of the most comedically talented individuals in the world, and we are eager to create opportunities for them in television. Over the past two years, our collaboration with screen agencies to invest in comedy in Wales and the North East of England has been immensely successful. We are now excited to partner with Screen Scotland to continue fostering a bright future for comedy.”

Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland says: “Scotland has long been a hotbed of comedy talent both in front of and behind the screen and we’re proud to be playing our part in making sure our comedy funny bones remain healthy through this initiative. It will make sure Scotland’s pipeline for developing comedy talent remains strong and it’s exciting to be able to share this journey with our colleagues at BBC Comedy and Screen Scotland.”

Kieran Hannigan, Head of Scripted at Screen Scotland says: “It’s fantastic to be partnering again with the BBC on this outstanding initiative. It goes right to the heart of our mission to increase content originated in Scotland, by offering local writers and performers an opportunity to showcase their talent. It’s incredibly encouraging that last year’s initiative has already yielded a network series but the addition of development producers to this year’s programme is crucial to expand our capacity to develop more successful shows from Scotland in the future.”

Details on how to submit proposals for the pilot opportunity and apply for the Development Producer placements will follow in due course and be published on the BBC Comedy Commissioning website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/comedy