Dave and James talk about... talking. How do you bring your comic conversations to life? What gets left out? How do you make it funny? And find out which hugely famous TV writer calls dialogue "the least important part of my job".

Creator of the great comedy monster Martin Fishback, Fergus Craig talks about his early love for Mr Bean, the Edinburgh hit double act of Fergus & Colin, and tries to persuade James that Reeves and Mortimer are the business.

Watch the Martin Fishback pilot on iPlayer:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0014bxd/martin-fishback

"Build A Sitcom" begins Friday 6 May. Email [email protected]

Stand Up, Barry Goldman is now available to download.

Sign up for the Situation Room Newsletter for more info on Kickstart Your Sitcom on 30th May:

https://prodigious-trailblazer-4053.ck.page/b2bdfd5a77

Dave and James talk to Hat Trick boss Jimmy Mulville about his decades of phenomenal comedy success, developing new writing talent and why you should never send him a substandard script.

Part 2 of the advice-packed interview from Daniel Peak, one of our most successful sitcom creators. Code 404, Not Going Out - and he's not afraid to talk about the ones that got away. This week, Daniel heroically relives Big Top, an episode or six of what happens when a sitcom fails to please the Lords of TV Criticism.

...announced in this week's bonus episode. Dave and James discuss what made it onto the shortlist, how the quality of scripts has improved in recent years and why the future of narrative sitcom is hopefully assured. (And congratulations to Lloyd Glanville for the winning script Unsustainable). For show notes see https://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/sitcom_geeks/episode_188/

Part 1 of our deeply insightful natter with brilliant sitcom writer Danny Peak, regular writer on Not Going Out and creator of one of Sky's most popular comedies, Code 404.

James and Dave have read your Hat Trick Script Competition Scripts and here are the headlines:

1. It really is hard.

2. Thanks so much for sending them in.

Oh and a few thoughts about mockumentaries, sociopaths and the language of sitcom scripts.

Currently one of our most successful comedy writers, Georgia Pritchett talks to Dave and James about the long road to success, working virtually in LA and making Armando laugh.

Dave reports back from his first two years of trying to become a novelist, and details the ups and downs of starting a new writing career. Warning: includes ignorance about the industry, misplaced arrogance and emotional attachment to worn out old ideas.

Work deep, build habits. Dave and James return from the break with great ideas to improve your writing productivity and increase fun. Plus a great new topical opportunity for 2022.