Three scripts recognised

Alice Etches has won this year’s £1,000 David Nobbs Memorial Trust prize for comedy writing, set up in honour of the Reggie Perrin creator.

They won for their script The Waywards with runners-up Ralph Jones and Chess Tomlinson each receiving £250.

Etches said: ‘I am over the moon to have won… a big thank you to the judges and congrats to all the other wonderful writers! 

‘The script I entered is close to my heart, and inspired by family, so it means a lot that people see potential in it. I’m planning on investing the money into creating a short film I’ve written (and maybe another new notebook?).

‘I always dreamed of working in comedy, and I can’t quite believe I’m actually doing it. Is it as fun and glamorous as I thought it would be? No. There is a lot of rejection, email refreshing and hunching over desks with the posture of a prawn. 

‘But I love it, and I’m going to keep at it until I physically turn into a prawn.

‘My FinalDraft is full of scripts and ideas, soooo if any producers want to have a coffee and a chat… that would be nice? Yeah?’

Jones, a member of sketch group The Awkward Silence, was runner-up for his script Redress.

He said:  ‘I passed out when I read this wonderful news, and was rushed to hospital immediately. When I came to, I was babbling about almost winning a comedy writing competition. None of the medical staff believed me, saying that I didn't seem particularly funny when I arrived.

‘ When I showed them the email notifying me, they were forced to eat their words - and the flapjack I had in my pocket. All in all, an absolute roller coaster of an afternoon. Thank you.'

Chess Tomlinson, whose script was called  Biobag Baby, said: ‘Being long listed, short listed and then runner up has been incredibly validating as a screenwriter. 

‘Opportunities like David Nobbs Memorial Trust Comedy Writing Competition continues to smash imposter syndrome, give the opportunity for your work to be read by industry heavy weights and for underrepresented voices to rise up and get their names into "the room where it happens".’

Judges were TV producer  Lucy Lumsden and comedians Katy Wix and Desiree Burch.  Lumsden said: ‘What a wonderful way for David’s immense comedy legacy to live on. Comedy needs to fight its corner more than ever at the moment and it was a sheer delight to read the winning script. With comedy writing like that we are in safe hands.’

Full details of the competition  – including how to donate to help support future prizes – can be found at the Trust website.

Published: 24 Jul 2024