Career booster from the BBC

Comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean has won this year’s Caroline Aherne Bursary to develop her writing.

The award, from BBC Comedy Commissioning, includes a cash sum of £5,000 plus mentoring from a commissioning editor to develop a comedy script.

It has previously been given to Sophie Willan  – who has written and will star in a forthcoming BBC Two comedy pilot, Alma’s Not Normal  – and Amy Gledhill.

Pritchard-McLean, a Radio 4 regular and host of  Radio 4 Extra’s Newsjack, said: ‘I’m utterly overwhelmed to be chosen for the Caroline Aherne Bursary. I adore Caroline so much, in fact, I was too intimidated to put myself forward at first, she’s an absolute icon. I’m now so glad that I did.

‘I think the previous two recipients are fantastic and what an honour to be associated with Caroline in any way, now I can pretend my endless rewatching of Mrs Merton and The Royle Family is for work and not just me being a creepy fangirl.'

Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning added: ‘Just as Caroline embodied the spirit of working-class Northern comedy that she brought to the masses, Kiri represents all that is vibrant and distinctive about the Welsh working-class sense of humour and we will support her to bring that unique voice and talent to national prominence. 

‘By way of demonstrating how vital this bursary is in fast-tracking emerging talent, seeing Sophie deliver her first sitcom within 18 months of being awarded this bursary makes our little old comedy hearts burst with pride.’

Pritchard-McLean’s TV credits so far include on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You and The Russell Howard Hour.

She is also director and co-writer of the sketch teams Gein’s Family Giftshop and  Tarot, while her true crime podcast with Rachel Fairburn, All Killa No Filla, boasts more than 50,000 monthly listeners.

Published: 16 Mar 2020