Team writing, the communal script process that has made a success of major US shows such as The Simpsons and Friend...
Team writing, the communal script process that has made a success of major US shows such as The Simpsons and Friends, is to be expanded across the BBC's comedy department in response to demands from channel controllers for longer runs of popular series, writes Leigh Holmwood

The practice, called 'table writing' in the US, was originally introduced to the UK by indie DLT Entertainment for its BBC 1 series My Family and features a group of writers working on storylines instead of the one or two traditionally used in Britain.

A team of six writers, led by executive producer Fred Barron, is currently working on 27 episodes of My Family, while Big Bear Films-produced My Hero has also taken on a variation of the system.

The BBC, which already uses the system for EastEnders, has now decided to expand it further, with the new series of comedy drama Manchild and sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps taking on extra writers to cope with extended runs.

BBC head of comedy Sophie Clarke-Jervoise told Broadcast that while it would not be used for every new show, the practice was needed for longer runs as it was difficult for one writer to maintain momentum. She added that it was also useful for training new talent.

Meanwhile Richard E Grant is to star with Arabella Weir as a celebrity cooking couple in a new spoof comedy for BBC 2, Posh Nosh.