LCWF: Writers get second chances

LONDON COMEDY WRITERS' FESTIVAL: Radio gives comedy writers a licence to fail, according to one of its top names.

James Cary said the medium's more modest profile meant writers had more freedom to take risks and to learn from their mistakes than they do in TV.

Cary's 2004 comedy series The Pits was 'a massive flop' but Radio 4 continued to support his work and he went on to make Bletchley Park sitcom Hut 33 - which has run for three series. In the costly world of television, it was less likely he would have been given another chance.

Cary was one of four speakers at the London Comedy Writers Festival championing the benefits of radio for new writers.

BBC producer Tilusha Ghelani highlighted 'open-door' programmes such as Radio 4 Extra’s topical sketch show Newsjack and Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes as excellent ways for new names to reach more than a million listeners every week.

Because radio devotes many more hours to comedy than television, writers have more opportunities to make themselves heard and for those looking to hone their skills, added writer James Kettle, it provides perpetual challenges.

If The Beeb isn't interested, Max Dickins of London's Absolute Radio, urged writers not to overlook commercial stations, which are desperate for good comic material and can be act as a launch pad to bigger things . After all, it worked for Chris Morris, Kenny Everett and er, Timmy Mallett.

– by Nione Meakin