You're Havin' a Class! An exploration of the experiences of working-class scripted television comedy writers
Lead Research Organisation:
Brunel University London
Department Name: Social and Political Science
Abstract
Some of the best loved British comedies have been written by working-class people, for example Only Fools
and Horses (BBC, 1981-2003) and The Royle Family (BBC, 1998-2012). The success of these programmes
did not significantly pave the way for other working-class comedy writers into the industry. The Panic Report
(2018) revealed that just 12.4% of people working in Film, TV and Radio are working-class. Furthermore,
understanding the barriers for working-class comedy writers has not received significant academic attention.
The importance and originality of this study is that it examines the experiences of working-class scripted
television comedy writers through the lens of cultural sociology, centering writers' own voices and scripts to provide new understandings.
and Horses (BBC, 1981-2003) and The Royle Family (BBC, 1998-2012). The success of these programmes
did not significantly pave the way for other working-class comedy writers into the industry. The Panic Report
(2018) revealed that just 12.4% of people working in Film, TV and Radio are working-class. Furthermore,
understanding the barriers for working-class comedy writers has not received significant academic attention.
The importance and originality of this study is that it examines the experiences of working-class scripted
television comedy writers through the lens of cultural sociology, centering writers' own voices and scripts to provide new understandings.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Francesca RIANDO (Student) |