Write to Comedy

Yes, I make nostalgic top ten lists. Yes, I celebrate the sitcoms that shaped us. But that’s only part of the story.

In this episode, I’m stepping back from the punchlines to explore the other side of British comedy history — the bits that didn’t go so well.

From the 1960s to the 2010s, sitcoms played a huge role in shaping British cultural identity. However, the laughter sometimes came at the expense of people who weren't in on the joke. This isn’t about cancelling classics or pretending they never mattered — it’s about acknowledging the context, the exclusion, and the impact.

We’ll look at how race, gender, sexuality, and class were portrayed (or not), who got to tell the jokes, and who got reduced to them. This is a huge, messy, deeply important conversation — and this episode barely scratches the surface. But it’s a start.

🎧 Listen if you love sitcoms — and are ready to love them with your eyes open.

📍Link in bio. As ever: stick around, it might get interesting.

Let us know what you think

This is the audio version of my blog Write to Comedy.

Visit the website: https://jacquiejsarah.com/write-to-comedy

Breaking the Fourth Wall, One Wink at a Time

You know that moment when a character stares straight into the camera and suddenly you're in on the joke? That’s the fourth wall shattering—and comedy has been smashing it for decades.

In this episode, I run through ten comedy shows (in chronological order, of course) that couldn’t resist chatting directly to us. From cheeky asides to full-on narrative hijacks, these shows didn't just entertain us, they involved us.

Expect direct eye contact, unreliable narrators, and at least one moment where the show knew you better than your best friend.

Hit play and see if your favourite made the list… or if it’s talking about you behind your back.

Let us know what you think

This is the audio version of my blog Write to Comedy.

Visit the website: https://jacquiejsarah.com/write-to-comedy

Last year, I put together a blog post for Bang2Write listing my top ten female sitcom characters. I leaned heavily into the Americans. Sue me (please don't).

This time, I’m setting the record (slightly) straighter with a rundown of iconic women from British comedy. It’s not that the UK lacks funny women — far from it — but they’ve rarely been given centre stage the way their US counterparts have. (Where’s our I Love Lucy? Exactly.)

In this audio post, I revisit the original article and dive into my UK-centric list: the characters who defied stereotypes, stole scenes, and kept things funny, even when the scripts didn’t always help.

Hit play, nod along, shout your own suggestions into the void,  or better yet, message me with them.

Got a favourite I missed? Think someone doesn’t belong on the list? Come fight me (nicely). Stick around — it might get interesting.

The original article: https://bang2write.com/2024/10/top-10-female-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time.html

Let us know what you think

This is the audio version of my blog Write to Comedy.

Visit the website: https://jacquiejsarah.com/write-to-comedy

Not all comedy is sitcom - and yes, we’re drawing lines in the sand now.

In this episode, I break down five suspiciously specific rules that separate proper sitcoms from everything else pretending to be one. 

Whether you're writing a sitcom or just want to feel smug about identifying one at 20 paces, this one’s for you.

Side effects may include: over-analysing your favourite shows and Googling “but is It's Always Sunny really a sitcom?”

Go on. Press play. You know you’re curious.

Let us know what you think

This is the audio version of my blog Write to Comedy.

Visit the website: https://jacquiejsarah.com/write-to-comedy

This is the first audio post of the blog Write to Comedy. I’m Jacquie J Sarah — writer, podcaster, and someone who’s spent far too long analysing jokes instead of just laughing at them.

This is the audio version of my blog: a safe haven for anyone who’s ever quoted Spaced unironically, argued about the best Brooklyn Nine-Nine cold open, or wondered why some comedies age like wine while others curdle on contact.

In this first post, I’m laying it all out in ten facts about me. How TV comedy became my lifelong obsession, why karaoke is my villain origin story, and what this blog is actually for (spoiler: I don’t entirely know yet).

Top ten lists? Obviously. Nostalgic rants? You bet. Rage at terrible finales? Almost certainly.

Make yourself at home. Stick around — it might get interesting.

Let us know what you think

This is the audio version of my blog Write to Comedy.

Visit the website: https://jacquiejsarah.com/write-to-comedy

Let’s start with the truth: this podcast wasn’t born from a five-year plan, a production team, or a vision board. It started with one writer, a deep affection for television comedy, and the firm belief that overanalysing sitcoms is a perfectly acceptable use of one’s adult life.

I'm Jacquie J Sarah, a writer, podcaster, and someone who’s spent more time thinking about fictional characters than adulting. Write to Comedy is a lovingly chaotic space where I explore the world of comedy on screen  - mostly British and American, occasionally further afield.

You can expect top ten lists, episode breakdowns, nostalgic tangents, serious discussions, character dissections, and the occasional deep dive into comic moments that made me laugh once and now apparently define my entire world view.

This isn’t a masterclass, it’s more like a chat with that friend who still quotes Spaced at inopportune moments and has strong opinions about the structure of The Office (UK and US).

It’s all evolving as I go. Stick around – it might get interesting.

Let us know what you think

This is the audio version of my blog Write to Comedy.

Visit the website: https://jacquiejsarah.com/write-to-comedy