How We’ve Helped 42 43 Writers To Their First Professional Credit

There are many ways to start your career as a comedy writer, and nothing gets you noticed faster than being able to write topical jokes for the radio.

Times have changed. The opportunities for a successful topical comedy writer are no longer as bountiful as they were when I started out – but it’s still a great place to meet young radio producers.

Why do you want to meet young radio producers? Because like you they are starting out in the business, and don’t yet have that many contacts. Unlike you they will go on to become slightly older TV producers. At which point they’re going to need writers. It will be a great help if they already know you.

While the topical door closed slowly over the last decade it has been blown open again in recent years.

A number of great opportunities have appeared for new writers: Breaking The News, BBC Scotland’s topical show that runs for 30 weeks a year is seeking material from writers with no previous credits.

And fabulous, multi-award winning The Skewer is guaranteed a place on Radio 4 for at least 15 weeks a year. Here’s what producer, creator and all-round topical comedy genius Jon Holmes has to say about his show: “Nothing has made me prouder than being able to bring new writers into comedy.”

Since 2021 I’ve been running a twice-yearly course with Ellie Hayward and Dan Sweryt to help people pick up their first BBC writing credit from these shows. By the end of last week we’d helped 42 writers and by the start of this week that had gone up to 43.

You don’t have to be a politics nerd to write topical jokes. On Friday we’ll talk about what you need to pick up that credit. Meanwhile if you’d like to find out more and sign up to the waiting list for September 2025 then sign up here: https://www.davecohen.org.uk/learn-to-write-comedy/comedy-writing-courses/