BBC Studios Audio has announced Eve Delaney and Ruth Huskisson as this year’s new staff writers, working with the Comedy and Entertainment team.
Their contract will see both writing on iconic Radio 4 shows and popular BBC Sounds titles like The News Quiz, Dead Ringers and Evil Genius. They will also play a key part in the myriad of panel shows, sketch formats, stand-up shows and podcasts made by the team as well as pitching original ideas for commercial audio platforms.
Eve and Ruth are the latest emerging writers to take on the role, following an illustrious group of alumni including Andy Wolton (writer of BBC Studios’ Trying for Apple TV), Tony Roche (Succession), Georgia Pritchett (Veep) and Kat Sadler (Such Brave Girls) to name a few.
They all began their careers in staff writer roles, originally named the Radio Comedy Writers Bursary. Established in 1978, over the past 47 years the scheme has seen an incredible number of talented writers working across the entire spectrum of BBC Studios Audio comedy shows, with many going on to create and contribute to some of the biggest comedy shows in the world.
Eve is a writer who has experience of developing television comedy scripts and has also written and performed in a sell-out Edinburgh show, Big Shop.
Eve says: “I’m delighted to have landed a spot in such a wonderful team. Earning a living as a writer is a rare privilege, and I feel really lucky to have this opportunity. My ears are constantly stuffed with a podcast or radio show, and as soon as I learn to stop writing visual gags about big hats for audio formats I hope to be a useful asset. A huge thanks to BBC Studios for having me – please don’t make me leave at the end.”
Ruth joins the team having gained television and audio comedy writing experience working across such shows as Late Night Lycett (Channel 4) and the Lively Life of Lindsey Santoro (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4).
Ruth says: “I’m absolutely buzzing to join the team at BBC Studios! It's a dream come true for someone who thought a role like this would never be open to someone like me. Comedy writing jobs aren’t advertised in Walsall job centre. I can’t wait to start work with the fantastic team at BBC Studios, allowing me to live out my childhood dream of being funny via PAYE.”
Eve and Ruth take over from Pete Tellouche and Christina Riggs who leave after a very successful year honing their craft while working across a huge variety of shows. Christina’s semi-autobiographical sitcom, Crab Bucket has been shortlisted by BBC Radio 4 and Pete has gone on to work on comedy panel shows for BBC Studios and beyond, including Frank Skinner’s One Person Found This Helpful.
Richard Morris, Creative Director, BBC Studios Audio Comedy and Entertainment added: “I’m delighted to be welcoming Eve and Ruth to our team. They’re both very talented indeed and I’m excited to see what they come up with during their time with us. I hope they fulfil their promise of making our team meetings up to 50x funnier.”
