1 PICK UP YOUR FIRST BBC WRITING CREDIT – EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE

2 THE JOY OF SKETCH (WRITING) – LIVE ONLINE

3 BUILD A SITCOM – BUILD A COMEDY DRAMA – EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE /ONLINE

1. JOIN 40+ WRITERS who we’ve helped since 2021…

PICK UP YOUR FIRST BBC WRITING CREDIT

Autumn 2025

There are many ways to start making a living at comedy writing, but nothing gets you noticed faster than being able to write topical jokes.

Top writers including Simon Blackwell (Veep, Back, Private Life of David Copperfield), Mark Burton (Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit) and Georgia Pritchett (Succession, The Thick Of It) all began their careers this way.

NEWSFLASH – you don’t have to be interested in topical comedy to write for these shows. The news is the gateway to jokes. Here’s the opening line from the last episode of 2023:

“The UK’s only giant pandas have set off for China after leaving Edinburgh Zoo. Their return home has been complex and delayed, mainly because the Passport Office won’t take black and white photos.”

Starmer? The SNP? Trump? Nowhere to be seen.

Over the last couple of years a number of great opportunities have opened for new writers. Breaking The News, BBC Scotland’s topical show that runs for 30 weeks a year is now open for material from writers with no previous credits.

And fabulous, multi-award winning The Skewer will be 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: “Nothing has made me prouder than being able to bring new writers into comedy.”

THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FIRST BBC BROADCAST WRITING CREDITS. WE CAN’T GUARANTEE SUCCESS BUT WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO BUILD THE WEEKLY WRITING HABIT TO GREATLY IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES

Send them to us ahead of the deadline and we’ll give you feedback about how to make them a better fit for the shows.

And we’ll be there, week in week out, to make sure you keep coming back with more. 

“Work ethic is something I’ve struggled with in the past. I was a massive procrastinator. Doing the course with you both taught me that the only way to get on is to just f**king do it and put the work in. Which sounds silly but by doing that, I got the most fun out of it too!”  Duncan Ladkin

Be warned – it’s a lot of work! But the credits are worth it. For Breaking The News, you’ll want to have time available between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning. And The Skewer will eat into chunks of your weekend. We’re looking at a period of around six weeks from early February to the middle of March.

Dan Sweryt has become a regular contributor to both shows. When he first heard The Skewer he couldn’t imagine he could write for it, but, he says “You can! Also it’s multiple award-winning and who doesn’t  want to write for a multiple award-winning show?”

Eleanor Hayward took the course in 2021. After scoring a string of credits herself, she’s helping us bring new writers forward.

The course was initially set up by Dave Cohen and has been run by Dan and Ellie since the summer of 2024, and continues to deliver first BBC writing credits to new writers.

“It was absolutely brilliant in every way. I ended up with writing credits on two shows which was a huge confidence boost and gave my writing career a valuable breakthrough. Worth the money many times over. Plus they were super supportive and encouraging, and gave really useful expert feedback. Your gag writing will improve whatever level you’re at. Fantastic and highly recommended.” Alice Bright (credited on both shows)

You don’t have to be a news nerd, but it helps. The most important skills are learning how to get into THE ROUTINE and THE HABIT of writing topical. And how to REWRITE your jokes.

Interested? It’s £150 inclusive. This is a small course so places are strictly limited. If you want to take part email funnyup02@gmail.com

NEW COURSE RUNS FROM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025.

To join the waiting list for September/October 2025 email funnyup02@gmail.com

STOP PRESS – Since October 2024 Breaking The News has been showing on TV so now you can earn your first TV credit as well!

We recommend you only try for ONE SHOW AT A TIME: Breaking The News OR The Skewer. Trying to write for both is possible but spreads your writing time too thin. To sign up contact us funnyup02@gmail.com

“The course and feedback on gags has been brilliant” Uttom Chowdhury (credited on both shows)

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2. The Joy of Sketch (Writing)

“Dave knows his onions. He can probably write jokes about onions. And they’ll have you crying with laughter (don’t worry he didn’t write that one).” Lee Mack

If you want to become a great comedy writer the best way to learn is to write sketches – loads of them. This brilliant new course tells you everything you need to know about sketch writing.

I’ll be joined by top comedy writer and performer BRENDAN DEMPSEY – he’ll help to bring your sketches to life and offer additional expert advice on your works in progress.

“Thank you for all your input and creating a space to be creative in where people felt safe to fall down and bounce back up again.” Amanda Talbot

Classes are all run online.

630-730pm BST/GMT October

Interested? It’s £150 inclusive. This is a very small course and sells out quickly so places are strictly limited. If you want to take part email funnyup02@gmail.com

“Awesome – really helped me up my game.” Mike Wooles

“I’ve enjoyed working with you as always and learned a hell of a lot.” Charlie Milner

“Enjoyed your class completely. For the four weeks it ran, I had a fabulous time thinking up sketches. If you do some other course or class, I would love to participate.” Rachel Pine

3. BUILD A SCRIPT

– From Zero to First Draft in 8 Weeks –

Build A Sitcom or Comedy Drama

with DAVE COHEN and ADAM LAVIS

I really enjoyed Dave’s course and found it very productive.  Every week Dave reads and gives individual feedback on what you’ve done.  It’s like having a writing partner with tons of experience, making you face things that you might otherwise gloss over, offering constructive suggestions, and occasionally administering a small pat on the back.  It’s the guide, philosopher and friend of sitcom courses.  – William Van Dyck (Winner 2021 Pozzitive Sitcom Script Competition, 2023 Sitcommission)

A brilliant introduction to comedy scriptwriting for novelists who want to make the switch – Jessica Adams (Author Single White Email, Tom Dick and Debbie Harry; Editor Girls’ Night In)

This course has been a wonderful inroad into a field I’d always wanted to enter but was never sure how to go about it. Thank you so much for all of it –James Allen

The notes are great, and it has given me a lot to think about. The blogs are easy to understand, even though some of the ideas are quite complex. I would definitely recommend it. – Jacqueline Davies

Five years ago the world shut down. My immediate response was to come up with a course to help you write an entire script from scratch in just eight weeks.

Build A Sitcom was an instant hit and I’ve been running regular courses ever since. In 2022 I changed the name to Build A Script, to acknowledge how comedy drama had become an integral part of the BBC commissioning process.

Five years on, I fancied a change. Mindful of the fact that even the most detailed script analysis is still based only on the opinion of one person, I decided it was time to demand a second opinion.

I’m delighted to be working with ADAM LAVIS who I know is one of the most respected comedy script readers in the country.

How do I know? Because I often hear feedback from new writers about script readers they’ve worked with before and Adam’s name is the one that most consistently appears as the best. (Also I once read a script by Adam that was one of the best scripts by new writers I’d ever read which may also have coloured my opinion. The best writers aren’t necessarily the best teachers but it certainly helps).

You’re going to write the first draft of a sitcom or comedy drama in EIGHT WEEKS.

Once a fortnight you email us the work you’ve done. Every fortnight we meet you online with thoughts and notes about the work you’ve already done, and how best to continue.

You might not finish it… But you’ll have experienced writing to a deadline, and if you want to be a professional writer that’s a vital skill to learn.

You might finish it and never wish to show it to anyone… Okay, but you’ve proved to yourself that you can write a sitcom episode in a reasonable time-frame. Your next one will be easier and should be better.

You might think it’s quite good, but not good enough… That’s okay, you’ll have time to improve it ahead of the Writersroom deadline.

You might think it’s brilliant… You’ll still need to rewrite it. Nobody’s first draft is ever that good.

• The course begins on Friday 11 April 2025. We meet FOUR TIMES online during the course.
• WEEK ZERO We’ll send you details of how we’re going to operate every fortnight.
• FRIDAY 11 APRIL We send out your first homework assignment
• WEEKS 1-2 We start with the idea.
• WEEKS 3-4 You build the characters and the stories.
• WEEKS 5-6 Then the outline.
• WEEKS 7-8 You build your episode from nothing into a first draft script.
• Course price is £450. Early bird sign up before 24 March 2025 £399. Email dave@davecohen.org.uk if you’re interested.
• More praise for Build A Sitcom
• I’m stunned at the depth of your notes and the speed at which you return them. Your feedback is always fair and when I read your notes each week, I find myself nodding in agreement. I’d recommend the course to anyone wanting to write a sitcom from scratch, whether or not they have writing experience. Basically, signing up to this course was the best decision I made all lockdown! – Eleanor Hayward
• I’ve loved the course so far. I’m finding the specific notes on homework extremely helpful, and that they’re in addition to the general notes and general instructions is really good. You’re a supportive teacher and in my experience at least half of this writing game is confidence and you encourage us to push on.  – Fiona Faith Ross
• Being taken step by step, to tight time frames, has given a brilliant insight into the process and how difficult it is. If anyone was thinking of trying their hand at Sitcom writing, they would do well to try your course. – Lee Dixon
• Working through lockdown was the most stressful time of my career. Having this sitcom to do in down time gave me an escape, I didn’t burden my family with work and the deadlines kept my mind occupied so thank you, if this course achieved nothing else it got me through covid – Steven Mucklow
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