The Stage

Welsh and Crook join Five comedy drive

Published Tuesday 25 January 2005 at 14:20 by Liz Thomas

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, The Office’s Mackenzie Crook, Peep Show stars Robert Webb and David Mitchell and Have I Got News For You producer Harry Thompson have all submitted projects to Five as part of a drive to bring fresh comedy to the forefront of the channel’s programming.

The station’s commissioning editor Graham Smith, who splits his role between Five and Paramount Comedy Channel as part of an ongoing partnership, is currently interested in more than 20 projects, one of which will air this autumn with two more expected to be broadcast next year.

Smith said: “It is exciting that so many established writers as well as newer talent are keen to work with Five and Paramount. I am really happy with the mix of ideas coming through as part of this comedy drive.”

Thompson, along with writing partner Shaun Pye, has created a comedy based in a brothel entitled Red Light, while Crook’s project Access All Areas is a behind the scenes look at rock and roll. Mitchell and Webb are looking at the darker side of student life at Oxbridge and Matt Holness, creator of Garth Marenghi, has also put forward an idea for a show about a second rate illusionist.

Five begins broadcasting Friends spin-off Joey next month and Smith is hopeful this will also help establish a connection between the genre and the channel in the minds of viewers.

Last year, director of programmes Dan Chambers told The Stage that he was keen to increase the amount of comedy on Five, describing it as a key way of making the channel stand out from its rivals.