Episode 215 - Playing The Long Game

In this episode Dave and James weave together all the strands of the previous 221 to bring the podcast narrative to a pulsating climax... no they don't, this is sitcom where stories never end and people never grow. They talk instead about the best and worst sitcom endings of all time - and offer their final thoughts about how to approach this noble urge to create and complete your fabulous sitcom.

Looking back to when we began, back when people used to say "what's a podcast?". What has changed since 2015, and what's stayed the same? Dave and James look at the lessons learned (and mistakes repeated), featuring special guests our fabulous patrons.

Dave talks to writers Dana Fainaru and Hamish Wright about their brilliant new comedy Significant Other, out now on ITVX. Plus writing for long running shows, building scenes and a refusal to get bogged down in the misery of supporting Leeds United.

Dave and James discuss how to plan your next year of writing with purpose and intention - plus some surprising news about their own plans.

Bravo BCG Pro! Dave and James debrief on the hugely successful Big Comedy Conference, concentrating on the commissioners and producers who offered a rare mix of realism and hope. Plus a nod to the simple pleasures of meeting actual Geekers in real life for the first time.

Dave and James talk to Britain's hottest comedy drama writing star Neil Forsyth about his latest hit show The Gold, the new series of brilliant comic drama Guilt, Samuel Beckett, Eric & Ernie - and his early start at the world's most famous comedy school, Bash Street.

Bleak Expectations was an instant Radio 4 comedy hit and is now headed for the London stage... a mere 16 years later. Creator and writer Mark Evans talks Dave and James through the ups, downs, sideways, hope-crushing disappointments and finally triumphant arrival of the show to the West End.

There are quick wins to be had on your comedy writing career journey. And there'll be plenty of help with these at our upcoming weekend of Comedy Conferences. But as Dave and James explain, if you want a long lasting career you need ideas, purpose and a desire to help others.

Ooh listen - a podcast about why you should be thinking about making a podcast! No really, tonnes of useful advice about kickstarting your comedy career by writing for audio, listening to BBC Sounds and getting to know radio producers.

Writer, performer and founder of Female Pilot Club, Abigail Burdess, talks to Dave and James about the joy of getting your scripts in front of a crowd. Plus all the spooky news about her darkly comic debut novel Mother's Day - and why plotting books is not unlike stitching together your sitcom. Mother's Day is out now: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/147229551X/comedyguide-21/ Dave's Sun-DIY Conference is on Sunday 23rd April. https://www.davecohen.org.uk/learn-to-write-comedy-daves-sun-diy-conference/ The show Abigail mentions at the start is Dinner For One. https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/freddie-frinton-dinner-for-one/