Sketches wanted for BBC

Recorded for Training Purposes

Recorded for Training Purposes is a sketch show for BBC Radio 4. Its remit is to be about “modern communication” – a wide brief, that can cover anything from straightforward sketches involving unhelpful helplines to parodies of modern types of TV/Radio.

The first series went out in January 2007, with a second series broadcast the following September. For the first series there was a national search for new writers who would write the series alongside a few more experienced writers and script editors. For the second series, the amount of material from these new writers was increased, with the more experienced writers taking a back seat.

It has a cast of six – three men, three women – who can, collectively, play most ages.

Here’s the home page for the show which has a video you can watch

Series Three
For the third series, there will be a core writing team of people who’ve written on the first two series. However, the show will also be opened up to, well, anyone. Anyone who sends stuff in will have their stuff read.

This is why there’s a limit of three sketches as they don’t have time to read any more than that – and the best stuff will work its way into the recordings. If the audience like it, it’ll get on air, and you’ll get paid and credited for your work.

What they are looking for?
As in previous series, sketches about modern communication. Whether you talk about the method or the content, that’s what it’s about. Things that seem to work include

• Parodies of genres rather than specifics (so: arts programmes rather than simply Imagine or The South Bank Show).
• Thinly-veiled attacks on recognisable celebrities/personalities (eg, politician/journalist Boris Moron; dandy TV presenter/stand-up Danny Vain)
• Jokes about communication and communicating – eg email, messageboards, SMS, Blackberry, stadium/transport announcements, voicemail, podcasts, and so on…

What they aren’t looking for?

• Someone reading their blog over the top of a sound effect of a keyboard being tapped – we have a talented and varied cast, bring more voices in
• Parodies of specific programmes/adverts
• Impressions (although the cast probably could do them if asked, we try to avoid direct impressions)
• Meetings where a series of people pitch terrible ideas for TV shows/adverts/that sort of thing

How to submit material?
Send no more than three sketches to rftp@bbc.co.uk by 17th November 2008. All submissions will be read and considered.