³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Bob Mortimer, one of the North East's finest home grown comedians, is fronting a region-wide search for the next generation of comedy talent.

A partnership between ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ North/Vision North and screen agency Northern Film & Media, Jesting About is a multiplatform initiative that will find and develop the best comedy talent in the North East.

Launched on 13 December at Newcastle's Live Theatre, Jesting About will give North East performers, writers, film makers and animators the chance to pitch comedy ideas, scripts and sketches to a panel of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ commissioners.

Middlesbrough-born Bob Mortimer, speaking at the Jesting About launch said: "Some of the funniest people I have ever met come from the North East, but not enough of them are recognised – let's try to change this and make the North East the comedy capital of the UK."

Bob Mortimer also met with students from five North East Universities at a special event prior to the launch.

Undergraduates heard from key speakers Jon Mountague, executive producer ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Comedy North (Inn Mates, Scallywagga), Martin Trickey, Commissioning Executive Comedy Multiplatform (The X Husband) and Alfie Joey, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Newcastle breakfast presenter, encouraging aspiring comedians and future producers to get involved.

Jesters from all walks of life and levels of expertise, from budding stand ups to witty script writers, can submit their funniest ideas for TV, radio and online opportunities through the from next week.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Comedy Online is looking for humorous short-form videos, virals and animations. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Local Radio is offering the chance to be part of a half-hour sketch show made up of two-minute mini-episodes for broadcast to North East listeners.

For the more experienced narrative comedy writer, there is an opportunity to join a writing team piloting a new ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One comedy series.

During February and March, successful applicants will attend workshops and receive support to help develop their ideas into pilots. This final content will be presented at a Jesting About showcase in April 2011 for commissioning editors, giving a distinctive flavour of the North East through talent and content.

Helen Bullough, Head of Entertainment Production North and Vision North, said: "Jesting About presents a unique opportunity both for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and the comedy community here in the North East. We want to delight audiences everywhere by finding more iconic voices and faces here to star online, on screen and on air – local voices that will appeal across the UK."

Tom Harvey, CEO, Northern Film & Media, said: "We are committed to identifying and developing talent in the North East. This initiative provides the link between the talent and the market and a structured framework for the region's best comedy prospects to shine across TV, radio and digital platforms.

"This extensive, competitive programme will hopefully provide the big breaks for the latest additions to the North East's proud comedy tradition."

The commissioners and creative leads involved are:

Kristian Smith, executive editor, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Comedy Commissioning
Jon Mountague, executive producer, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Comedy North
Martin Trickey, commissioning executive, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Comedy Multiplatform

Submissions will be accepted via from next week. Applicants have until midnight on Friday 21 January to respond to the creative briefs and will be contacted by mid-February to discover if they have been successful.

Notes to Editors

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ North is committed to investing in local production companies. A recent example includes Newcastle based TH_NK through the @North initiative which aims to encourage and support the development and delivery of interactive, multi-platform content for children..

JA3