British comedy is undergoing a renaissance – just look at the triumph at this year’s Golden Rose of Montreux TV Festival and film successes like Shakespeare in Love and Notting Hill. But our best writers, authors, devisers and creators in the fields of comedy and light entertainment need to capitalise on the opportunities that are arising from those successes.

The British Society of Comedy Writers (BSCW) is a new professional organisation that aims to develop good practice and professionalism among comedy writers, whilst bringing together under a single umbrella the best creative professionals, working to standards of excellence agreed with the light entertainment industry.

Promoting excellence

The aim of the BSCW is to work closely with the entertainment industry world-wide by providing writers who are trained to the highest standards in comedy and light entertainment.

Initially, membership of the BSCW will be granted only to writers whose ability and professionalism matches the BSCW’s high standards. Next year the BSCW will begin its own training initiatives in order to help writers achieve the high standard required to work in the broadcasting media.

Membership of the BSCW will be synonymous with the most capable and professional scriptwriters, authors, devisers and other creators within light entertainment. It will be the organisation that the best creative professionals most wish to be part of, whilst new writers will aspire to match the Society’s high standards.

Generating opportunities

During the Spring/Summer of 1999, an Advisory Group was set up to look at ways of forming an organisation for writers of comedy/light entertainment. The Advisory Group found that many British and International TV companies are desperately seeking new writing talent but can’t find it.

They can now!

Full details of membership benefits can be found here.