Sophie Willan has been awarded the first BBC Caroline Aherne Bursary! The Bolton comedian came out top in the 100s of comedians who applied for the prize. Aimed at supporting new comedy talent, the bursary is named in honour of the late award-winning comedy writer and performer Caroline Aherne.
The bursery scheme was launched in July 2017 by BBC Comedy Commissioning, in partnership with BBC Writersroom and BBC North at the Salford Sitcom Showcase, calling applicants to submit filmed content of comedy characters. Sophie will receive £5,000 to support the development of her work as well as mentorship from Kate Daughton, the BBC’s Comedy Commissioning Editor, to develop a comedy script with the potential to perform at the Salford Sitcom Showcase 2018!
On her win Sophie said: “I’m honoured and absolutely over the moon to have won the Caroline Aherne Bursary. I discovered Caroline as a child when I watched her as Mrs Merton and instantly fell in love with her. I dreamt of being a comedy writer/performer and seeing the super talents of northern women I related to like Caroline and Victoria Wood made me feel like this could be a very real and attainable achievement for a girl like me.
“I have always connected on a deep and personal level with Caroline’s work – particularly The Royle Family. Like Caroline, my comedy is full of vivid characters that depict authentic and naturally funny people. People who are as flawed as they are lovable.
“I look forward to continuing that legacy with my own updated take on the Northern, working class experience as part of this bursary and hopefully inspire the next generation, just as Caroline inspired me.”
Shane Allen, Controller, BBC Comedy Commissioning said: “Sophie is a really fitting and very exciting talent to back with the inaugural award of this bursary. She embodies all that was wonderful about Caroline – sharp writing, natural Northern feistiness and extreme likeability. We look forward to working with her.”
Congratulations Sophie!
