Year-long contract to work on radio shows

BBC Studios has taken on two new staff writers for comedy.

Tasha Dhanraj and Rajiv Karia will work across Radio 4 topical shows, panel games and podcasts including The Now Show, The News Quiz, Dead Ringers and Newsjack.

They are being employed on a year-long contract, under a scheme to give experience to up-and coming writers, which stemmed from the BBC’s radio comedy writer bursary. Writers who have taken part in that scheme since its 1978 inception have included  Guy Jenkin (Outnumbered), Rob Grant and Doug Naylor (Red Dwarf) and Simon Blackwell and Georgia Pritchett (The Thick of It, Veep). 

Dhanraj and Karia take over from previous staff writers, Charlie Dinkin and Simon Alcock. BBS Studios sat they   will continue to work on future projects. 

Julia McKenzie, creative director of BBC Studios Audio, praised the outgoing duo, saying: ‘[They] only had a short while in the office before we all started working from home; it’s not been the easiest gig to make jokes about 2020, but they did a terrific job.’

She added:’I’m sure Tasha and Rajiv will relish the challenge of getting stuck into 2021 and will have fun developing their own projects with us.’

Dhanraj career in comedy and writing started at the age of 14 when she started doing stand-up on the Brighton circuit. She has several sitcoms in development, and has had sketch material commissioned for Lenny Henry, BBC3’s Comedy Quickies and Horrible Histories, among others. 

She said: ‘Joining the BBC Studios team as a staff writer is incredibly exciting. Comedy has been a defining part of my life; so this is a huge honour. I'm also especially excited to get to know Rajiv and make him my best friend. I might not become his best friend, but he will be mine.’

Karia is a stand-up comedian, writer and actor, who was shortlisted for the BBC New Comedy Award in 2019.  He  said:  ‘I'm absolutely thrilled to have been selected as a staff writer, and I can't wait to get started on such a unique opportunity. 

‘It's brilliant to have been selected alongside a talent like Tasha, and I can't wait to start turning my half-baked ideas into barely functioning ones.’

Published: 1 Feb 2021