Backwards In High Heels

Ovaries and the Comedy Gene

Some of my work was recorded for this week's Newsjack but didn't make the final broadcast edit - but that's no reason not to tune in ;) Please do so here. There's some fantastic writing on it and I guarantee you laughs a plenty. What is great about this show is it has an open door policy. Anyone can write and submit, see the guidelines. It's very much how I got my first foot in the door of comedy writing  (I got noticed on the Sketch Factor competition run by the BBC a few years back) and I'm proud to say I've now had credits on all five series of Newsjack and all series of Recorded for Training Purposes.

Last week I was invited down to the writer's meeting for that week's episode - the day before the recording when the script editor and producers put together the show, sketches are polished, as a topical show they make sure all the latest news is covered including any late breakers etc. I was the only female writer in the room bar Lyndsay who is one of the producers. Looking around the table there were more people with facial hair than ovaries. Admittedly I had one hell of a hag hair that day but I don't think they mistook me for a bloke.

If we look at this week's credit list for Newsjack there isn't one female contributor. Why the dearth of female writers for the show?

I can tell you it isn't because of a conspiracy. The door at the BBC isn't manned by a misogynist who throws dusters and polish at women if they dare to approach. It's actually a rather lovely environment and there's some great female producers within its walls but yes, the ratio tips in favour for the male of the species. Yes, there is somewhat of a boy's club feel around comedy in general which may be one of the things that puts some women off. In fact it reminds me very much of the other world I have my foot in - motorsport. Perhaps that is something that helps me - being used to being surrounded by men and the humour that abounds.

I believe that many women will talk themselves out of putting themselves forward. Comedy is very subjective, and the aim is to make people laugh - and what if they don't? What if your joke falls flat on it's arse? How many women won't tell a joke 'because they can't' - have you ever heard a man say 'no, you tell it dear, you tell it better'. No. I will be sending a paper to the Lancet shortly declaring testicles * release a hormone that makes all men believe they are funny and the confidence to demonstrate this.

Okay, perhaps we are wandering into the wood of stereotypes  funny men and timid women, but the figures do tend to speak for themselves. There is a suprising unbalanced ratio when you get out there into the world of comedy writers. My call to any woman out there interested in comedy writing is just have a go. Forget the what ifs, the can'ts and the it's not for me. Send those quips in -maybe they'll  be grounded but you never know, you may just fly - there is no harm in trying. You do not want to get to a point where you look back and think 'I wish I'd tried...' Less time wishing, more time doing.

There are wonderful female comedy writers out there and wonderful female writer/performers. One thing they all have in common, even though I know may not recognise it in themselves, is tenacity. That ability to just keep going. One of the greatest attributes you can have as a writer is perseverance.

Because, I do not want to think we ever need positive discrimination, something which I have also advocated against in motorsport on the same theme of female participation. If a script editor has room for one sketch and is choosing  between mine and one written by a man, I never want to think the editor's hand feels pushed to mine for the sake of quotas or 'balance'; I want the best work, best fit for that show to make it through regardless of the author. But, as in motorsport, I do think there may be a place for women only initiatives especially at an entry level. If that is what is required to draw people out then perhaps it is a necessary evil. I've seen new female drivers enter through trackdays for women and certain female motorsport events, often enjoying support from peers in the British Women Racing Drivers Club and that grounding has given them the confidence to then move into the all out fray of motorsport.

So come on girls, pens out and give your comic creativity the chance to breathe.

*Actually I have testicles. I keep them in my handbag. Last time that racing driver answers back.

**This is an issue I've also been talking to Andrea Mann about and I highly recommend you whizz over to The Huffington Post and read her article addressing the issue, That's (not) Enough Female Comedy Writers. Ed.

Thank You, David Croft

I was very saddened to hear yesterday of the passing of one of the greatest comedy writers, David Croft part of the writing teams behind such classics as Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army, Hi-De-Hi, Allo Allo, It Ain't Half Hot Mum.....the list goes on.

I grew up with these comedies, everyone one of them brings back memories for me. Sat with my great-grandfather many moons ago watching Dad's Army to looking at the TV listing just a few days ago and thinking 'Ah, all is not lost, there's a Dad's Army on!'. I remember laughing because the adults were laughing, but I didn't really get the joke, to that first time I laughed because I did get the double entendre and feeling so grown up and clever. I've never let a pussy double entrende go untouched since.

Comedy fashions ebb and flow, as do the norms of taste and what is acceptable. Some have thumbed their nose at these comedies whether for the innuendos or approaches to situations or characters which sit less easily with today's norms.  Still, I defy any of those people to have in truth never raised a smile, stifled a giggled or just plain roared with laughter from one of those shows above. And, more importantly, I do believe the thread through all those shows was an underlying love for the characters portrayed and never knowingly being cruel.

For me Croft's work is the comedy version of mashed potato - comfort food but for your funny bone. I can only imagine how many bubbles of laughter have been let out into the world because of lines he has written. What a beautiful legacy to leave. Thank you, David Croft.

The BBC has produced a lovely montage of some of his famous lines which you can see here

The Joke Is On Us

I caught a few moments of The Wright Stuff this morning just as they began talking about Jimmy Carr and a story I wasn't aware of. In one of his stand up shows, Jimmy mad a gag about amputee soldiers. To paraphrase, the joke went along the lines of - one thing you can say about all the amputee soldiers is we're going to have a hell of a paralympic squad in 2010.

Some media, politicians and commentators have lept on this with some seemingly wanting to amputate Jimmy's head.

The debate on The Wright Stuff mainly concentrated on a few of themes, those who thought it was shameless and distasteful, those who believe comedy must stretch all boundaries of taste (and with Jimmy's material you get what you expect) and others saying it was an extension of a type of dark and self deprecating humour often observed in such areas as the forces (indeed some quarters suggest Jimmy got the joke from amputee soldiers themselves whom he has visited).

It was even suggested that Jimmy's joke was in a roundabout way a compliment to the soldiers.

My take is that if the joke is on anyone, it is on us - the general public. It was an uncomfortable joke because it made us uncomfortable. For all our oohing and ahhing over our forces involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq how many of us know the real casualty numbers? The media picks up the highly emotive deaths, but bar the odd late night documentary, how many of us now just how many of our soldiers and armed forces are coming back with horrendous injuries. Some will argue it's a fruitless war, others will argue soldiers know what they are signing up for. Whilst all these people are arguing (from the comfort of their own homes), real people are coming back to face a new reality of disability.

I know people in the armed forces and people who have worked the medical units in Afghanistan, the number is staggering and the number is rising. Over 230 soldiers have been seriously injured this year alone. Hundreds of patients - UK troops, Nato troops and Afghans - go through the army medical unit each month.

Now put the joke in context - translate it, why are we going to have one hell of a paralympic team? Because we have hundreds of men and women coming home severely injured - that is the true point of the joke.

And today we are talking about the issue because a one sentence joke, which made you take a sharp intake of breath, reminded you of a cold hard truth. A politician hasn't put this back on the agenda, a heartfelt documentary didn't make us sit up and listen. A comedian, who has taken the time out to visit these men and women, cut us straight to the quick. Many a true word said in jest. Comedy has many powers, and this is one of them.

So the likes of MPs who are calling for Jimmy to be dragged across the coals add this sick joke to your list - I'm so glad you are up in arms about this and so glad you have 2 arms to up in unlike some of our soldiers. Now kindly piss off and do something truly useful for our troops instead of flapping your mouths.