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I can only dream of how it would feel to watch a comedy sitcom, on the television, that I have written. A good idea that has been with me for many a year that I have always thought would come to fruition, a new and very refreshing comedy that deals with real everyday life, that would be so different to what we have to put up with day in and day out, material that is out dated, not funny or even just plain old junk. We have all probably got a story to tell, but could we all write about it? and can we make it funny? but most of all can we write it as a script for Television or Radio?

Well the BBC online website has a very good place to visit that will help you do all of this. It is very aptly called The Writers'Room and this excellent site can be found at: https://bbc.co.uk/writersroom. Once there you will find everything you wanted to know on how to get started, lessons on how to write your scripts for television or radio, and in the Writers' Guidelines section you will find the FAQ, (frequently asked questions) and here they have dozens of answers to most of the questions that you have always been asking about.

There are no qualifications needed, but they have listed the obvious essential qualities that every aspiring comedy sitcom scriptwriter should have. I might be a very funny person who can see the comical and humorous sides of everyday life, but having no writing skills to go with this talent would render all my hopes of getting a script read never mind about getting it accepted as nil. It is not as easy as sitting down and writing lots of those one liners even if it is new and original material.

Another art is by being visually funny, a very good example of this would be one of my all time favourite moments in that now old but excellent comedy sitcom called 'Only Fools and Horses'. It all happened in a yuppy wine bar where Del Boy and Trigger were trying, without any success I might add, to impress a couple of ladies. Meanwhile, the barman had lifted up the bar flap so he could go and collect some glasses, Del had not noticed this when he had leaned to his right, whilst still looking at the ladies, to rest his weight back on the bar and thus stiffly falling through the gap disappearing out of sight still with drink in his hand.

The above example did not come over as funny, it was not written in a funny way and did not have any jokes in it, but if you had seen it as it had happened you also would have thought it to be rib splitting.

There are, as always, some very basic rules that should be followed and one main rule is that they, by they I mean the Comedy Script Unit, will only read work from new writers and who only just write half-hour situation comedies. The Comedy Script Unit are only looking for thirty minute scripts that have five more follow up episodes, they need to be funny and they certainly need to be fresh. Originality is an obvious must, so try not to be influenced by any show that is already popular on television at the moment.

Most of the sitcoms are recorded in front of a live audience so as to have real laughter as the actors are doing their bit, that is why most if not all of your scenes need to be filmed indoors. All your scripts need to be in the region of about fifty pages long and they should be typed on A4, remember to include a CV and also a covering letter telling them a little bit about yourself with a brief description of the sitcom you are submitting.

The Comedy Script Unit do say that they read every single one of the estimated 2000 scripts they receive each year. On average it will take them about eight weeks to get back in touch with you, it might even be longer than that if they think it deserves a second read. Be very prepared for disappointment and a lot of objective criticism it can only serve to help you become a better writer.

Send all your TV scripts to:-

Comedy Script Unit,

BBC Television Centre,

Room 4088,

Wood Lane

London

W12 7RJ

Also in the Writers' Guidelines section is lots of tips and ideas that will help you, such as a Sitcom Checklist, Practicalities, Originality, How to submit your script, How to get started and plenty more. This is where they tell you what happens when the Script Executive likes you as a writer or your script.

While at this site it would be a good idea if you checked out the message boards. You will pick up loads and loads of ideas from many people with and without experience in writing comedy. The message boards can take you all over the BBC to say Holby City and Casualty, Red Nose Day or even Eastenders

There is a Masterclass that gives you advice from an already established writer, at present it is Simon Nye, who wrote 'Men Behaving Badly'. They have provided Script Templates to help you through the different layouts, these are in PDF format so if you have not got Adobe Acrobat to read them don't worry because they have a link for you to download it.

You may want to start off your career by writing for Light Entertainment Radio. Writing for radio is where they suggest you start, not a lot of visual humour needed here, but you must remember that it needs a completely different approach to that of writing for television. For example Radios 2 and 4 have an average audience age of 52.

Send all your Radio scripts to:-

BBC Light Entertainment Radio,

Room 5411,

Broadcasting House,

Portland Place,

London

W1A 1AA

You can send short stories to:-

The Readings Unit,

Room 6053,

BBC Broadcasting House,

London

W1A 1AA

If you want free tickets for any of the TV or Radio

shows, then just write to:-

BBC Audience Services,

PO Box 3000,

London

W12 7Rj

For TV shows e-mail:-

tv.ticket.unit@bbc.co.uk

For Radio shows e-mail:-

radio.ticket.unit@bbc.co.uk

Telephone:-020 8576 1227

or visit https://bbc.co.uk/tickets