Trio of NE comics win BBC development cash

Comedians Sammy Dobson, Raul Kohli and Scott Turnbull have each been awarded £1,000 to help develop new scripted projects.

The funds come from the BBC Comedy Creator Fund, and were targeted at those working in the North East of England.

The trio will also get help finding producers who might make their ideas reality, as well as industry networking opportunities.

Lisa Laws, head of talent and business development at North East Screen, said ‘This was an opportunity for North East comedy creators with their sights set on scripted comedy to pitch themselves and their ideas to us.

‘It’s been fantastic to find so many up-and-coming comedy creators in the region and brilliant to see such a range of talent and ideas. We can’t wait to introduce them to producers with inroads to broadcasters.

‘Well done to everyone who has been part of the process and we are excited to see the ideas and comedy creations develop.’

Stand-up Kohli has been performing solo Edinburgh Fringe shows since 2013, was a runner-up in the Chortle Student Comedy Award in 2016 and scooped the Naty new act of the year ‘top of the bill’ title in 2017.

Dobson starred in Byker Grove in the early 2000s, playing Sarah Young, before turning to stand up aged 23 after surviving a serious car accident.  Her other appearances include I, Daniel Blake,  Meet The Richardsons and performing stand-up on Radio 4’s Fred At The Stand, hosted by Fred MacAulay.

Turnbull, who also started his career in Byker Grove, is an associate artist with the Arc in Stockton-on-Tees, who created his first one-man show, Where Do All The Dead Pigeons Go? in 2017.

Twelve runners-up comedy creators will get the opportunity to work with North East Screen’s ‘comedy hot house: Jess McDonagh, Bridgett Deane, Lauren Stone, Lee Armstrong, Matty Ride-Smith, Nic Owen, Penelope Yeulet, Rachel Stockdale, Sian Armstrong, Caden Elliott, Beth Chapman and Alison Stanley.

The scheme, administered by North East Screen, came after the BBC made Newcastle its first ‘City Of Comedy’ last year – and honour that has gone to Cardiff in 2023.

Published: 26 Apr 2023