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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Comedy, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ writersroom, Northern Film & Media, Screen Yorkshire and North West Vision & Media are searching for exceptional writers from the North of England who want to write comedy for television.

If you can make us laugh, have a passion for TV Comedy, a strong individual and funny voice and excellent characterisation skills, you could take part in our scheme Northern Laughs.

Northern Laughs will provide a fantastic training and development opportunity for up to three comedy writers from each Northern region.

The selected writers will learn about writing for television comedy through mentoring from leading comedy writers – including Jeremy Dyson (The League Of Gentlemen, Funland) – and workshops which will give a detailed and invaluable insight into writing comedy for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

Jeremy Dyson said: "It's brilliant that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and its partners are initiating a scheme like this. It is exactly the sort of encouragement and support I dreamed of finding when I was starting out as a writer. It can be tough when you're beginning and an opportunity such this can make a huge difference."

Each writer will receive a development bursary from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ writersroom and there will be an opportunity for a writer representing each region to have their work showcased at the Edinburgh Festival in August 2009.

At the end of the development process each script will be considered by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Comedy and the best ideas will be put forward to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Comedy Commissioner in the North.

Writers will also have a calling card script with which they can then apply for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's College of Comedy 2010.

How to apply to Northern Laughs:

The scheme is open to anyone living within the North East, Yorkshire or North West region.

If you wish to discuss your eligibility, please contact your local Screen Agency.

If you are interested in applying please download guidelines and application form from:

North East – www.northernmedia.org/

North West – www.visionandmedia.co.uk

Yorkshire – screenyorkshire.co.uk

The deadline for completed applications is Thursday 12 March 2009.

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