10 creatives could win up to £15,000 in bursary scheme

The BBC Comedy Collective is to open for applications next month, with a £150,000 pot set aside for mid-level creatives.

It is the fourth year of the bursary scheme, designed to support writers, performers, producers, directors and editors who would like to further their careers in scripted comedy.

Each bursary winner will receive up to £10,000 worth of paid shadowing on a BBC comedy production, plus a £5,000 development grant to put towards their own project development.

As well as an allocated production mentor and dedicated point of contact within the corporation’s comedy commissioners, the cohort can also benefit from the support of the BBC Comedy Collective ambassadors. These include director Christine Gernon, editor Gareth Heal, and producer Ash Atalla, alongside estate representatives including Geoff Schuman and Paul Whitehouse (representing Felix Dexter), Tessa Le Bars and the Galton family (representing the writing partnership of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson), and Lucy Ansbro (representing Caroline Aherne).

Indies supporting the scheme, which opens on Wednesday 8 April, include Hat Trick, Big Talk, BBC Studios, Birdie Pictures, Nice One, VAL, Tidy Productions and Merman.

BBC comedy director Jon Petrie said: “The BBC Comedy Collective is a fantastic way for emerging comedy talent, both on screen and behind the scenes, to get stuck into the heart of the industry.

“It’s about opening doors and helping the next wave of voices find their place in the comedy community. We’re thrilled to launch the search for this year’s cohort.”

The scheme is open to anyone who has had at least one previous credit in writing, producing or directing, or edit assistants looking to make the jump to editor.

More information on the scheme and how to apply will be available via the BBC commissioning website, with applications closing on Wednesday 6 May.