Help for comedy writers from ethnic minorities

The BBC has officially launched its bursary for new black, Asian and minority ethnic writers in honour of Felix Dexter.

The scheme offers two new six-month traineeships within the BBC comedy department.

Paul Whitehouse, who worked with Dexter on shows such as Bellamy's People and The Fast Show, said: ‘It’s great that the bursary is being launched by the BBC in Felix Dexter's honour. He was a brilliant comedian and friend – despite being an Arsenal fan.’

And BBC comedy commissioner Shane Allen added: ‘Today’s an exciting moment for the BBC as one of its comedy heroes will now live on by inspiring others to follow in his footsteps. 

‘We recognise that now, more than ever before, there’s a need to kick open doors and encourage exciting new writing talent who can further the legacy that Felix pioneered.  

‘This is not just another come and go scheme – it’s a traineeship for high potential comedy writers from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds – launched in association with the Felix Dexter Foundation.’

 Saint Kitts-born  Dexter came to prominence in the BBC sketch show The Real McCoy, an appeared in  other comedies including  Absolutely Fabulous and Citizen Khan before his death in 2013, at the age of 52. 

The BBC says it is looking for ‘talented people who are writing comedy professionally or as a pastime and would benefit from dedicated training and unrivalled insight into the world of BBC comedy’

Chair of the Felix Dexter Foundation,  fellow comic Geoff Schumann, welcomed the bursary as a way for Felix Dexter’s legacy to continue to shine and in honour of ‘a comical genius who brought joy to many’.

Applicants do not need a formal writing credit to be considered, but must have experience both of writing to a brief set by others and working to deadlines.

Applications are open now until 5pm on Monday June 12 here.

Published: 25 May 2017