Perfect 10 by Rich Johnston in The Sitcom Trials

Episode 7 of series 1 of of The Sitcom Trials saw two wildly different sitcoms in competition, one deals with the world of politics, one with the world of football. Here is the first in the head to head contest, Perfect 10 by Rich Johnston...
These episodes star Sitcom Trials regulars Dan March, Victoria Jeffrey, Gerard Foster and Simon Wright who, following his acting roles in the show went on to co-produce the stage show for two seasons before co-creating The Sitcom Mission.

Talking of changing the subject,next in the blog comes this contender's rival.

Perfect 10 by Rich Johnston
Football by Bowdler & Manning
Winner
Alternative winner

The Sitcom Trials returns in 2012, writers and performers are welcomed. See here for details.

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Jimmy James - Sitcom Trials solo sitcom

James Holmes in The Sitcom Trials. For the Sitcom Trials Edinburgh show of 2002, James Holmes wrote and performed a one man sitcom The World Of Jimmy James. It was the most popular and successful sitcom of that month's run and the following year found itself in the first Sitcom Trials TV series...



2001's Edinburgh Sitcom Trials had starred Miranda Hart in her sitcom set in a novelty shop. When, as Miranda, that format found itself as a popular series on BBC TV, James Holmes went on to take the co-starring role originated on stage by Dan Clegg.

The Sitcom Trials returns in 2012, writers and performers are welcomed. See here for details.

Justin Lee Collins in the Christmas Episode

From The Sitcom Trials archive, here's Justin Lee Collins, in a very early show, playing the part of Mr Coal the disturbing neighbour in the sitcom Rise And Shine - The Christmas Episode.



Script by Kev F Sutherland, characters created by Ken Elkes & Kev F Sutherland. Starring Edward Grassby, Juliet Grassby, Sarah Menage & Andy Pollard.

The Sitcom Trials continues in London, Bristol and Manchester, writers and performers are welcomed. See here for details.

The Sitcom Trials - returns to Bristol 2012

Sitcom Trials Bristol 2012 - actors & writers wanted

The Sitcom Trials is about to return to Bristol in 2012, would you like to be part of it?

Vince Stadon (author of one of 2011's winners of the Manchester Sitcom Trials, Checkpoint Dave) has taken hold of the reins of Producer for The Sitcom Trials spring season in Bristol and is interested in hearing from actors who would like to perform comedy, and writers who would like to see their comedy performed.

Contact Vince at stadonclan@hotmail.com and he'll be in touch about planned meetings and shows in Bristol. Oh, and I'll be involved too, how could I resist?


Sitcom Trials ITV series

The first Sitcom Trials took place in Bristol (and very shortly after in London) in 1999, and our ITV series was broadcast live from the HTV Studios in Bristol in 2003). The last Bristol Sitcom Trials was way back in September 2005 so, following the success of the recent London & Manchester seasons, it's ripe for a revival.


The cast of Checkpoint Dave, Sitcom Trials winner 2011

If you need reminding about the fine work of The Sitcom Trials in the past, check out the videos and details at sitcomtrials.co.uk

Vince and I look forward to meeting a new team of comedic talents, welcome on board.


Kev F Sutherland
Executive Producer
The Sitcom Trials

The Client - Sitcom Trials

From the 2nd episode of the TV series, The Client by Harris, Wainwright & Blakewill. A classic.



The Sitcom Trials returns in 2012, writers and performers are welcomed. See here for details.

Go Wild In The Country - Sitcom Trials

From the 2nd episode of the TV series, a classic sitcom, Go Wild In The Country

The Sitcom Trials first TV series was broadcast live at around 11.30 on Friday nights, with the actors only learning which sitcom's ending they'd be performing during the ad break. Live skin-of-the-teeth televsion at its best.

The Sitcom Trials returns in 2012, writers and performers are welcomed. See here for details.

History of Dance - Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre

Brand new from the Socks, a brief look at a classic dance.



And, while we're on, the brand new 2012 Socks Calendar is now available. Check it out, only £10.25, perfect for Christmas.

Sitcom Trials mentioned in Miranda biog

I'm reliably informed that The Sitcom Trials and I get an honourable mention in this new biography of our old alumni Miranda Hart.



On which news alone I cannot recommend it heartily enough (and if the publishers would like to send me a free copy, I'm sure I'd be happy to endorse it further). Though, that said, can I just give the biggest thumbs up to I, Partridge - We Need To Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge, which is the funniest thing I've read this year.

As you were.

PS: Miranda tweets: @mermhart Miranda Hart The book is nothing to do with me i am afraid. Totally unauthorized.

Sitcom Trials semi final 09 - McNeil & Pamphilon

Steve McNeil & Sam Pamphilon went on to win the 2009 Sitcom Trials tournament with End To End. This segment, from the semi finals, shows it off nicely, as well as showing the quality of the esteemed runners up.



Have we found the new The Trip? The new Nuts In May? The new Three Men In A Boat? You decide.

You can see videos of the entire 2009 Sitcom Trials season, and many other shows from the Manchester Trials to the ITV1 series here in the Sitcom Trials YouTube archive.

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Miranda In The Sitcom Trials

Miranda Hart was in tonight's One Show, which seems an opportune time to recall the debut of her novelty shop-based sitcom, in The Sitcom Trials back in 2001:



According to Wikipedia, Miranda Hart's eponymous sitcom, now on BBC 2, first appeared as part of The Sitcom Trials at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001. It featured Miranda, working in a joke shop that sells penis pasta, with a diminutive blonde sidekick, originally played by Charity Trimm, and the love interest in the cafe, played then by Gerard Foster. The camp character played in 01 by Dan Clegg went on to be played in the TV series by James Holmes who, coincidentally, was the star of the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe Sitcom Trials.

 
If you would like to create the next great British situation comedy, The Sitcom Trials is an opportunity for your sitcom to be seen live.

Details of new shows, and our ongoing competition, are to be found here at sitcomtrials.co.uk and on Twitter and Facebook.

See the Best of The Sitcom Trials videos, here.

Producers Tale v What An Anchor

In The Sitcom Trials TV series, two behind-the-scenes TV show sitcoms compete. What An Anchor by Adrian Peck & John Kelly, vs Producer's Tale by Roland Moore.



Have we found the new Larry Sanders? The new Alan Partridge? The new the-one-with-Ben-Miller-you-know-it-was-on-ITV-last-year-oh-what-was-it-called? You decide.

The Sitcom Trials first TV series was broadcast live at around 11.30 on Friday nights, with the actors only learning which sitcom's ending they'd be performing during the ad break. Live skin-of-the-teeth televsion at its best.

The Sitcom Trials returns in 2012, writers and performers are welcomed. See here for details.

See the Best of The Sitcom Trials videos, here.

Sitcom Trials - Period Comedies

From the Sitcom Trials TV series, two Period Comedies go head to head.



Have we found the new Blackadder? The new Chelmsford 123? The new Maid Marian and Her Merry Men? You decide.

Sitcom Trials Judges words of wisdom

From the last Sitcom Trials London season, some of our judges offered their tips on comedy writing:



Includes Iain Morris, David Quantick, Carrie Quinlan, Marc Blake, Daniel Maier, Richard Vranch and Nev Fountain.

New Sitcom Trials website

This is a bizarre post, in that I'm telling you all there's a new Sitcom Trials website, and you're reading it on the new Sitcom Trials website. I have, as you'll have worked out, made a new Blogger blog, and linked it to sitcomtrials.co.uk. Let me know if there are any shortcomings. Meanwhile, if you're nostalgic for the previous site, check it out here.

Ooh and a lovely new animated banner...



...which you can also see at the top of the page, I don't know why I bother.

Manchester Sitcom Trials result

Thanks and many congratulations to the fabulous cast of Friday night's Sitcom Trials in Manchester and to the audience, however small and perfectly formed that audience may have been.

And the winner, based on the audience vote, was....

The Mad Axe Man & Her by Debbie Rayner

Here's a video giving you a snapshot of the show:



The voting looked like this:

Tragic Life of Roger Bulwark - 4 votes
Mad Axe Man & Her - 5 votes
As Plain As Day - 0 votes
Leaping Tiger - 3 votes
Doing It For The Kids - 1 vote

As you can see, that's only a total of 13 votes, a result of a very disappointing and surprising turnout for this show. But the audience were small and perfectly formed and subsequent consultation with the rest of the team agreed with the audience's decision, making Debbie's script the clear winner. It will now be prepared for a full stage outing some time in the next season.

Thanks to all the writers who submitted work, and all the actors who took part. See you all next time.

Kev F
Producer
The Sitcom Trials

Sitcom Trials Manchester Oct 21st

The Sitcom Trials to which we have all been building up on various forums (primarily here on the British Comedy Guide Forum - warning, there be trolls) takes place this coming Friday in Manchester.



Also the winning sitcom from July's Manchester Sitcom Trials, Checkpoint Dave by Vince Stadon, is being performed in full at the Lass O'Gowrie on Thurs 20th and Fri 21st Oct at 5.45pm.

Tickets £2.50

The 5 sitcoms being showcased by the team are
As Plain As Day by Richard Dowling
Doing It For The Kids by Ian Clarke
Leaping Tiger by Dave Powell
Mad Axe Man & Her by Debbie Rayner
Tragic Life of Roger Bulwark by Luke Cedar

Sitcom Trials videos inc TV series and last final

PS (Sun am): I've just received an email about The Sitcom Trials which begins "I only stumbled across this from a brief remark on "The One Show" [BBC 1, Friday Oct 14] about the current competition, which I realise has already been closed for entries."

The One Show? Did the Sitcom Trials get mentioned on The One Show? By whom? I must know more!