SCREENWRITING
The feature film of my romantic comedy spec script Fado! is currently in the works. Produced by Golden Globe Award winner Gareth Wiley, it has Oscar nominees Emily Watson and Richard E. Grant, and BIFA-winning director Jason Wingard, attached. Fado! has been covered by Deadline, Screen International and Variety, and was included in The Hollywood Reporter’s Cannes ‘Hot List’.
I have since been hired to write more features – including an underdog sports comedy-drama based on this delightful true story (now with Mason Media Matrix) and a romantic comedy for Forty Foot Pictures. I have also written an 80s jukebox musical romcom feature spec (now with producers attached), been hired on a Christmas family movie, and am currently developing two TV comedy-drama series ideas.
I’m a BAFTA Connect member – a BAFTA initiative supporting future creative leaders – and a member of Women In Film & TV UK. In 2022 I was selected for the Filmmakers25 mentoring scheme for emerging filmmakers in the Bradford area (being mentored by Kate O’Hara, Head of Development at Duck Soup).
For screenwriting, I’m represented by Christina Pickworth at Imagine Talent.
OTHER SCRIPT WORK
I have written jokes, sketches and parody songs for stage shows, radio, TV, podcasts and web series.
My credits include: NewsRevue (Canal Cafe Theatre, London), The Treason Show (various locations, Brighton), The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4), Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 Extra) and Never Mind The Buzzcocks (BBC Two).
I was the lead writer on acclaimed comedy politics podcast Strong & Stable – which made both The Guardian and The Independent‘s lists of The Best Podcasts Of The Year.
FREELANCE WRITING & DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION
As a freelance writer and digital creative, I’ve worked for various news, lifestyle & cultural websites, including BBC, AOL and BT.com; and created content for a variety of social media accounts – from Have I Got News For You and Channel 4 to Twitter’s own Twitter account – for leading social media agency That Lot. Before going freelance, I was the Comedy Editor of The Huffington Post UK, which involved everything from writing spoof news stories to watching an awful lot of cat videos. Halcyon days.
SPEAKING & MORE
I’ve spoken about writing, comedy and creativity on panels at the London Screenwriters’ Festival, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, London Comedy Writers’ Festival, Big Comedy Conference, Craft Of Comedy Writing Conference and Writing East Midlands Conference. I’ve reviewed the papers on Radio 4’s Broadcasting House and talked about funny women on BBC Radio Scotland’s Comedy Cafe.
I was part of the development team for Creative England & BFI’s short film competition iShorts+ Funny Girls; and I have twice been a judge for the Funny Women Awards.
For three years as a Westminster City Labour Councillor, I was the Shadow Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture & Leisure: regularly speaking about the arts and advocating for more funding and better access to culture for local communities.
Since moving to Yorkshire, I’ve taken part in the University of Leeds’ ‘Creative Life Stories’ program – supporting students from underrepresented groups wanting to pursue careers in the cultural & creative sectors – and recently gave my first guest lecture at the university.
I also run a fortnightly ‘Write-In’ in Ilkley, where anyone can come to write in friendly company – read more about it here. Please do come along if you’re local/like cake/both!
