How to make a comedy show about colour - 21 century style  23 October 2007 Is the BBC heading for a nervous breakdown?  17 October 2007 The BBC - white man's radio 17 October 2007 Time to put the drama back on screen 16 October 2007 There's more to life than TV 16 October 2007 BBC1 and the usual suspects 12 October 2007

Originality
If you happen to be a person of colour, so basically not white, prior to your show being aired on TV you will always be compared to those who have preceded you. Therefore, people will ask, "Is your show like The Kumars?" "Are the character's like Little Miss Jocelyn?", "Are the jokes like Lenny Henry's?", "Is Meera Syal or Richard Blackwood in it?" Ensure that all answers to the above questions are a resounding no!

Endeavour to create a show that feels and looks original. No 1970s style jokes or characters, no relying on silly accents or cheap gags and no perpetuating of racial stereotypes (do not, under any circumstance, have a dribbling Asian granny on a sofa making cock innuendos).

The Script
No subject is taboo, not at the writing stage at least. This may change when your commissioner calls you in for the time honoured 'emergency meeting' (see Stand Your Ground), but until then, have no fear. As long as the point you are making is relevant, intelligent and funny, be as daring as you want. Making the viewer and your TV execs sweat is no bad thing.

Stand Your Ground
Almost all production companies are white and middle class - this is a fact.

Pat Younge believes that the BBC is on the verge of suffering a nervous breakdown.

Is it acceptable for BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time to refer to a plant as "Black Man's Willie"? Tess Finch-Lees thinks not.