Women - Funny Creatures They Are

There is a long standing debate as to whether woman are funny both as performers and writers. And the answer is yes. /debate.

But why is this in my mind? Well I've recently been submitting to Newsjack and am very pleased some of my material has got through to the recording stage even though it didn't make the edit for the broadcast show...yet. Newsjack has an open door submission policy and is a great initiative by the BBC to bring on new writers. Three episodes in and if you look at the contributors list so far you will see it is overwhelmingly men.

I certainly don't think it is a conscious decision by the producers and editors - far from it. Having had the pleasure of BBC comedy workshops and knowing in this accessible age of e-mail they soak up material sent to them and who sent it in is a secondary regard, there is no secret selection committee.

My suspicion is men are just braver or more deluded or more conceited ;) when it comes to sending material in. Have you ever met a man who doesn't think he is bloody hilarious? I'd love to know what the statistics of the submissions are. I think a lot of woman hold themselves back when it comes to comedy, frightened of coming across self-righteous, rude and/or bitchy. Luckily I have no qualms about these three qualities in myself.

I know some fantastically witty, observant and clever woman who in everyday life crack me up. Ask them to give writing comedy a go with me and they won't. Is being a (deliberately) funny woman not seen as feminine or attractive?

Well one woman who was funny to the core was the great Molly Sugden. I am unashamedly an Are you Being Served? fan and Mrs Slocombe's pussy has earned a deserved spot in comedy history. But, my favourite performance by this great character actress was when she played the extremely snooty Mrs Hutchinson in The Liver Birds. The following YouTube tribute is very sweet, I actually shed a tear watching it. Miss Brahms and Mrs Slocombe reunited to provide heaven with knickers!

Comments

[pete]

you know if you look at my favourite sitcoms most are male pieces. Dad's Army, Steptoe, Blackadder, Porridge. fools and horses, yes minister,likely lads etc

and I can think of few female standups I find funny ( Jo Brand an exception). Watch Mock the Week and there is at most one female comic and usually I am underwhelmed.

Mrs Slocombe though is a wonderfully British character isn't she. You couldn't imagine her in a US sitcom.

[Tricia]

Wonderful footage of a great lady and comedienne. Her talent was always evident and her range of facial expressions extensive, as highlighted so well in the YouTube piece. Pity there aren't more like her.

I must admit to being a fan of Jo Brand!

[Around My Kitchen Table]

At work the women who are really quick-witted and funny tend not to show that side of themselves in big groups. And have you noticed on programmes like Have I Got News For You, women panellists (on the rare occasions they appear) say something funny and there's hardly a reaction from the other panellists. Paul Merton says something inane and they all wet themselves - although I must admit he's very clever and funny. No matter how funny a woman is, they are hated by a certain type of newspaper reviewer/columnist who will slag them off on principle. By the way, I once played skittles with Jo Brand in a little pub in a North Devon village. She was staying nearby in a holiday cottage. She was very friendly and very nice. I was a big fan before but now I'm a huge fan.

[Kate]

I've noticed that on HIGNFY, Mock the Week too. But overall, I think the lack of women comedy writers reflects the lack of women writers generally. Women are more likely to see writing as a hobby which must come behind a family, a 'proper' job and all the other things they take responsibility for. Men are more likely to take it seriously and set aside time to focus on it.