Comedy writing
From headline to punchline: how topical comedy gets written
What topical comedy is, how BBC radio’s Newsjack and The News Quiz use writers, what “additional material” means on a credit, and Phil’s own writing credits.
8 questions, 3 min read
Topical comedy is comedy with a use-by date. A joke about this week’s news can bring the house down on Friday and mean nothing by the following Wednesday.
Phil has writing credits on two of BBC radio’s topical comedy shows, so here is how that world works.
What is topical comedy?
Comedy about what is happening now: the news, politics, whatever everyone is talking about this week. It has to be written quickly and it goes off quickly, like milk, or a manifesto.
What is Newsjack?
A topical sketch show on BBC radio, first broadcast on BBC Radio 7 in June 2009 and later on Radio 4 Extra. It is famous for being open to new writers: the BBC’s own pages say “anyone can submit material”, and the show has paid a flat fee for the non-commissioned material it uses, which has made it a first step for a lot of comedy writers.
What is The News Quiz?
Radio 4’s long-running topical panel show, which the BBC describes as a “topical panel quiz show, taking its questions from the week’s news stories”. Its episodes are credited as written by the host, with writers of “additional material”.
What does “additional material” mean on a credit?
Jokes and lines written by people other than the main writer, for the show to use. It is how topical shows get enough jokes about enough stories every week: several writers contribute, and the best lines make the broadcast.
What has Phil written for?
British Comedy Guide credits Phil with three writing contributions to BBC radio:
- Newsjack, series 9, episode 4 (2013), as a writer. The BBC’s own page for the episode lists him among the writers.
- The News Quiz, series 85, episode 8 (2014), additional material.
- Newsjack, series 12, episode 6 (2015), as a writer.
They are writing credits: he was not on air. The full list, with links, is on the About page.
Does topical writing show up in his stand-up?
Hot Water Comedy Club’s profile of Phil calls him one of the most prolific writers on the circuit, always keeping his material fresh, and the listings for his shows talk up his topical jokes. The best way to judge is to see him live.
How quickly is topical comedy written?
Fast. Topical shows are written in the days, sometimes the hours, before recording, so the jokes are about this week’s news and not last month’s. It is the comedy equivalent of cooking to order.
I want to try writing topical jokes. Where do I start?
- Read the news every day and look for the angle nobody else has taken.
- Write lots. Most of it will be rubbish; that is the job.
- Keep it short. A topical one-liner has no time to waste.
- Find the open doors: shows and nights that take material from new writers, and meet their deadlines.
- Try it out loud. An open mic such as Hot Water’s Thursday 3 Minutes Of Fame (see our first-timer’s guide) is the fastest test there is.
