The Stage

C5 and Paramount start search for sitcom writers

Published Tuesday 7 December 2004 at 14:45 by Liz Thomas

Channel Five is launching a sitcom writers scheme with Paramount Comedy Channel in a bid to discover and produce original, homegrown talent.

The channel is aiming for a 30-minute scripted comedy series appealing to fans of The Office, Little Britain, Smack the Pony and Spaced but also Friends and Will and Grace.

Graham Smith, commissioning editor for comedy, said: “We want to encourage people who have maybe written a bit for radio or sketch shows or even someone completely new coming into the industry to take part. We are throwing the doors wide open. Every script will be looked at. There will be a final list, which could be anything between five and ten scripts.”

The finalists will then spend some time working with, and receiving advice from, established writers, producers and script editors.

Smith added: “The mentoring stage is about fine-tuning the scripts. The finalists will then be narrowed down to the one that shows the most promise. This will go into development for a potential series.”

The anticipated budget per episode is around £140,000, similar to the amounts spent during the first series of shows like Spaced and The Office. Once commissioned, the programme is likely to be shot in one or two key locations or on a standing set and feature new on-screen talent.

“I am interested in doing this for two reasons. The first is a charitable or a public service approach, we want to encourage new writers into the industry and give them a headstart. The second is more selfish, I want to find the next unknown hit comedy and I want it on Channel 5 and Paramount,” said Smith.

Part of the team responsible for hits such as Little Britain and the new Dom Joly series, Smith left his role as the BBC’s acting editor of new comedy in August to join C5 to spearhead its move into original comedy. Details of the scheme can be found at http://www.five.tv/

• Jeff Ford, C5’s head of acquisitions, is to take on extra responsibility, overseeing the channel’s drama commissions. Ford will oversee the channel’s daily soap Family Affairs, as well as commissioning new series. He recently masterminded Five’s acquisition of Friends spin-off series Joey.