“You can't teach comedy, but you can learn. And the best way to learn, is to do it,” says Bill Dare the writer and senior tutor on the NFTS’ new comedy course delivered in partnership with Channel 4.
The new 18 month part-time NFTS Diploma in Writing and Producing Comedy enables students to develop all forms of scripted and unscripted comedy including, sitcoms, sketch shows, and panel shows for radio and television.
Speaking about the students on this year’s course, Dare says: “The students have risen to the challenge of writing every week and getting their work assessed by professionals and it can be quite crushing at times, but that really is the only way to get better.”
“It's a bit like boot camp on The X Factor only without the swimming pools. No one has burst into tears so far,” he adds.
Students have been taught by NFTS writing and producing tutors, supported by guest sessions from the people responsible for some of the UK’s most iconic UK shows including Peep Show, Father Ted, Have I Got News for You, Spitting Image, Horrible Histories and Green Wing.
In the past 5 months, students have already been given entertaining and insightful masterclasses with some of Britain’s best comedy writers and commissioners including:
Pete Sinclair - Writer of HIGNFY and Lead Balloon
Phil Clarke - Head of Channel Four commissioning
Jane Berthoud - Head of BBC Radio Comedy
Caroline Norris - Producer of Armstrong and Miller, Horrible Histories
Jon Culshaw and the Dead Ringers team
Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong - Fresh Meat, Peep Show
The Dawson Brothers - writers of Big School, That Mitchel and Webb Look, Take Me Out.
James Carey writer on My Hero, Miranda and co-creator of Bluestone 42.
Watson and Oliver of Watson & Oliver fame.
