Would-be writer beats 2,135 others to sitcom prize

Aspiring comedy writer Daniel Hobden has won a £5,000 development deal in the Shortlist Sitcom Search.

His script, A Month Of Sundays, is an autobiographical sitcom about a young lad from Hull called Dan who’s desperately searching for a job and an escape from the city.

Hobden, a 27-year-old civil servant from Brough – 12 miles from Hull – said: ‘They always say write what you know, so that’s what I did. Before this, the only thing I’d written was a best man’s speech. I have a few ideas and can’t wait to get working on it.’

The competition, run by Shortlist magazine, Comedy Central and independent production company Big Talk attracted a staggering 2,136 entries.

Big Talk’s Kenton Allen said: ‘It has good observations about what life is really like. Daniel clearly has an ear for comedy.’

And Jill Offman from Comedy Central added: ‘Daniel had a real, personal take on a common situation. And he knows funny. I’m keen to hear more of his ideas and help him develop them.’

Hobden will now write a full episode of A Month Of Sundays, based on his ten-page sample – an extract of which can be seen on the Shortlist website.

Published: 28 Nov 2012