Staff Writer, BBC Studios Audio Comedy

The Bbc; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media organization in Westminster is seeking a Comedy Writer to join their award-winning team. This role involves developing and writing comedy content for a variety of audio formats and shows. The ideal candidate has experience in audio/TV comedy and a strong passion for storytelling and comedy. This position offers the chance to contribute to renowned shows and collaborate with talented performers and writers.

Qualifications

• At least two professional writing credits in audio or TV comedy.
• Experience of working with performers and writers.
• Drive to act as a self-starter in projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop a narrative audio comedy idea for a sitcom.
• Write for various shows as required across formats.
• Script-edit sketch and narrative comedy shows.

Skills

Writing skills

Comedy knowledge

Networking

Job description

About the Role

Are you a writer developing a career in the comedy and entertainment industry? Do you aspire to be a full-time comedy writer 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 Comedy and Entertainment team at BBC Studios Audio. 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 radio and podcasts for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds as well as producing a growing slate of programmes for commercial audio platforms. Our shows include The News Quiz, Just a Minute, Mark Steel's In Town, Laura Smyth's Your Mum, Nature Table with Sue Perkins, Dead Ringers, Tim Key's Poetry Programme, The Lively Life of Lindsey Santoro, DMs are Open and many many more. Our podcast portfolio includes The Big Pitch with Jimmy Carr for Netflix, Dancing with the Stars for Disney+, and Strong Message Here with Armando Iannucci for BBC Sounds. We also recently produced Zeroes, a new comedy drama for Audible by David Reed starring Paterson Joseph and Danielle Vitalis. This role also provides the opportunity to work closely with our 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.

Key Responsibilities

• To develop a narrative audio comedy idea with funny returning characters who could be at the heart of the nation's next favourite sitcom.
• To write for any of our shows as required; we produce a wide 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 Dead Ringers, working to tight deadlines.
• To script‑edit sketch and narrative comedy shows.
• To write to a brief set by a producer or another writer and to contribute to idea‑generating sessions.
• To develop scripted and non‑scripted podcast ideas for development.

Qualifications and Experience

• To comply with the BBC's policies on Diversity and Inclusion.
• At least two professional writing credits in audio or TV comedy.
• A good knowledge of comedy and a passion for both the comedy world and writing comedy.
• Experience of working with performers and writers, creating material that showcases them at their best.
• Experience of originating and developing ideas, working to notes and briefs from producers and commissioners.
• 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.
• Experience of writing 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.