Part 2 of our series of articles exploring the sketches used on series 19 of Newsjack...
After a cracking Ep 1 we're well into the swing of things as we hit Ep 2, which sees a different production team. Nick Coupe takes over from Adnan Ahmed (working alongside Hayley Sterling) and former and current BBC Bursary holders Max Davies and Mike Shepherd (respectively) take on script-editing duties.
I really like Newsjack sketches in that they showcase a classic sketch format and encourage a high gag-per-page ratio. If you want to be a comedy writer, you can do much worse than master the art of the Newsjack sketch.
A reminder - each week I'll be looking briefly at each of the broadcast sketches to summarise their key ingredients - Instalment identifying the Target, Message and Premise - all key ingredients when creating a comedy sketch (doubly so for topical material).
Disclaimer!
- I don't work or speak for the BBC or the Newsjack production team, or any of the writers - these are my thoughts alone.
- This is not an advice blog. Newsjack provide their own advice and guidance on writing for the show which you should read if you want to submit.
- I am happy to be corrected in my analysis - please get in touch as required!
Sketch Summaries - Episode 2
Sketch 1 - Boris cab driver
Story - Boris Johnson criticises say Theresa May is putting Britain on track for a car crash Brexit
Target - Boris Johnson's approach to life, politics and Brexit
Message - Boris is a privileged toff who always gets away with it
Premise - What if...Boris Johnson was actually a cab driver
Technique used - Context shift (Boris as a cabbie)
Sketch 2 - Church Wonga
Story - The Church of England are looking at plans to buy Wonga's loan book
Target - The Church
Message - If the Church come calling they want your time not your money
Premise - What if...the Church of England came to collect on the loans?
Technique used - Context shift (Church as loan collectors)
Sketch 3 - Vine Cable almost resigning
Story - Vince Cable said they he will resign...at some point
Target - Vince Cable
Message - Vince Cable is a tease
Premise - What if...Vince cable teased us in everything he says?
Technique used - Logical extreme (virtually the same as the John McDonnell sketch in Ep 1!)
Sketch 4 - Trope Poldark
Story - Geologists have discovered that Cornwall and South Devon used to be part of France
Target - Poldark / living in Cornwall
Message - Poldark is very trope-ish in how it portrays living in Cornwall
Premise - What if...we explore the story as if it were an episode of Poldark?
Technique used - Format shift (TV show - Poldark)
(N.B. this sketch wasn't really about the story itself, but was a good excuse to satirise Poldark!)
Sketch 5 - Generation sensible
Story - New research suggests that 18-year-olds are more likely to be in the library than the pub
Target - Parents of millennials
Message - Parents expect their kids to behave as badly as them
Premise - What if...18 year-olds were super-sensible and nice on holiday?
Technique used - Logical extreme / Format shift (TV show - Sun, Sex & Suspicious parents)
Sketch 6 - Salisbury Cathedral
Story - Russian nerve-agent attack suspects said were in Salisbury to visit the cathedral
Target - Snobbish venue owners
Message - When somewhere becomes popular everyone wants a piece of the action
Premise - What if...Salisbury Cathedral became over-booked?
Technique used - Logical extreme
Sketch 7 - NHS staff retention
Story - The NHS is losing up to 2,000 mental health professionals a month
Target - Staff losses in the NHS
Message - Staff losses will mean unqualified staff will end up treating mental health issues
Premise - What if...no qualified staff were left to treat mental health issues?
Technique used - Logical extreme
Sketch 8 - Tony Blair line Autobiography
Story - The screenwriter of 'The Queen' accuses Tony Blair of stealing lines from his film script
Target - Tony Blair
Message - Tony Blair steals lines from other writers
Premise - What if...Tony Blair stole the words for his autobiography from lots of famous movies?
Technique used - Logical extreme
