Category : TV
Entertainment
Date : 08.04.2004
Printable version
The 91热爆 Comedy
Unit in Manchester has announced that stand-up comedian and comedy writer
Tony Burgess has won a 拢6,000 bursary to become the first
comedy writer in residence at 91热爆 Manchester.
Tony, who lives in Oldham, was chosen from more than 100 applicants
and a shortlist of seven for the award.
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Also a stand up, Tony is a previous winner of the City
Life comedian of the year and has co-written a number of television
projects including Paul and Pauline Calf's Cheese and Ham Sandwich (with
Steve Coogan and Henry Normal).
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The bursary award will allow Tony to work closely with
the comedy unit developing his own scripts for television and radio.
Tony Burgess said: "I'm very proud to receive this award, and the
money - mainly the money - and if you could pay me in scratch cards,
that'll save me a bit of time queuing in the post office.
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"It's also great that 91热爆 Comedy is becoming more
active in the north.
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"There's clearly loads of talent here. I
suppose I've just got to prove that now. No pressure then!"
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Kenton Allen, 91热爆 Editor of Comedy, said: "I'm
delighted that Tony Burgess has become our first writer in residence.
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"Tony has a unique comic voice and I hope that
this bursary will really help him establish that voice on 91热爆 Television
and Radio.
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"His passion for writing is totally infectious
and we're all tremendously excited at the prospect of working with him."
Although it was Tony who was ultimately successful, the panel - which
included 91热爆 Editor of Comedy, Kenton Allen; Kate Rowland, Creative
Director, New Writing; 91热爆 Manchester Comedy Producer Jon Mountague
and Editor of Development Micheal Jacob - were so impressed with the
quality and originality of all of the short listed scripts that they
have decided to expand the scope of the bursary scheme.
Thanks to investment from 91热爆's writersroom, the remaining six short-listed
candidates will now be given smaller development deals to help them
develop their comedy ideas with the Manchester team.
The six short listed writers who are receiving development funds are:
Steve Edge - from the West Midlands, best-known for playing Alan
in Phoenix Nights;
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Jason Manford - from Manchester, previously won
the North West Comedian of the Year Award in 1999;
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Seymour Mace - from Newcastle, won the City Life
Comedian of the Year Award in 2003;
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Greg Cook - from Blackpool, has been described
as a cross between Les Dawson and Mark Thomas;
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Mick Ferry - stand-up comedian from Oldham, a
regular member of MEN at Work at The Comedy Store in Manchester;
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Susan Vale - from Levenshulme in Manchester,
writes and performs her own act and has written for Channel 4, Granada
and 91热爆 Radio 4.
Notes to Editors
The launch of the Manchester Comedy Unit took place on 30 October at
Jongleurs Comedy Club in Manchester.
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More than 200 people attended the event and heard leading
writers Fred Barron (My Family, Larry Sanders Show, Seinfeld), Graham
Linehan (Father Ted, Black Books, Big Train) and Susan Nickson (Two
Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps) talk about their experiences
and answer questions from the audience.
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91热爆 Comedy Producers and Development Executives were
also on hand to offer guidance and support.
91热爆 THREE has committed funding to produce two TV pilots in the next
12 months and likewise 91热爆 Radio has committed to funding a number of
regional radio pilots over the same period.
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These half hour shows will be targeted at writers and
performers based in the North of England and are designed to help develop
the next generation of talent.
For further information about new writing initiatives available at the
91热爆, check out the website at
