麻豆约拍

Webinar

To find out how to make your material stand-out and ask questions about the upcoming series of DMs Are Open, join the producers for a webinar on Thursday 9 January at 7pm.

This whole page gives you all the information you need to submit so please read below!

DMs Are Open is NON-TOPICAL. Each episode has a theme and we want your sketches to fit that theme. We are looking for outlandish and ambitious sketches that are short and punchy, with a high gag rate.

What to submit

We have made some changes to the format of this series. We want DMs Are Open to be packed full of your sketches and ideas, and for that reason we’ve decided to cut the notifications and voice notes. This way, we can take more of your sketches through to the recording and the broadcast show. The notifications and voices notes have been great features of the past couple of series of DMs Are Open, but we always think it’s such a shame that we don’t have room for more of your fantastic sketches, especially with a 15 minute run time. This time, more of your great sketches are going to make it to the radio, performed by our fantastic cast.

In the same way as last series, we will have 3 windows across our 6 episodes. Each submission window will contain 2 themes that will be used across 2 episodes.

We want 1 sketch for each theme.

In total for each week you can submit:

2 x sketches, 1 on each theme ONLY.

As we’re only asking for 1 sketch on each theme, do make sure you go through your ideas, write up and send in your best one! We receive a lot of sketches each week, so think outside the box about how your sketch applies to the theme - the more original the sketch the more it tends to stand out.

What are the themes?

New themes will be released weekly, so remember to check this page every Thursday. We’ll also post it out from the @DMsAreOpen麻豆约拍 X/Twitter account. As soon as submissions close for one writing week, we’ll drop the themes for the next. The first theme will drop when the week 1 submission window opens.

WEEK 1: 7pm Thursday 9 January - 12pm (NOON) Wednesday 15 January.

THEME 1: TBC

THEME 2: TBC

WEEK 2: 7pm Thursday 16 January - 12pm (NOON) Wednesday 22 January.

THEME 1: TBC

THEME 2: TBC

WEEK 3: 7pm Thursday 23 January - 12pm (NOON) Wednesday 29 January.

THEME 1: TBC

THEME 2: TBC

We’ll email you to let you know if you’ve made the script or the broadcast on the Monday before each broadcast, which starts Wednesday 19 March at 11pm for 6 weeks.

Format

We’ve got up to 5 performers to play with, but don’t feel you have to use them all. Some of the best sketches could be two-handers or even monologues – if you approach them imaginatively.

Sketches can vary in length, but as a general rule – keep them short! No more than 3 pages in our template – but they can be much shorter. Make sure they display a clear idea, contain distinctive characters and have a beginning, middle and end. Keep the laughs coming throughout the sketch and think about how the comedy escalates. If your sketch feels like its outstayed its welcome, cut it down – get to the funny as quickly as possible, and end on a big laugh.

We want you to think big with your sketches – there’s no idea too outlandish or silly. Have a think about how you can take your idea up a level. Does your sketch lean into a specific genre? Or demonstrate a distinctive style? How can you make it different from all the others? Is it loud, or quiet? Dramatic or mundane? Naturalistic or surreal? We’re going to read a lot of sketches, so how is yours going to stand out? Without the voice notes and notifications this year, there’s more time to focus on your writing – we’d like you to really hone your idea and polish your sketches before submitting.

Think about character. Why do the characters in your sketch make the situation particularly funny? And are there any characters you think are funny enough to come back each week? We have an incredible and experienced cast who would relish the chance to bring a brand new comedy character to radio.

Remember, your sketches are being performed in audio so really think about how you use sound. Through the magic of sound your sketches can take the audience absolutely anywhere! Think about how we experience sound in the modern world and the different media through which we communicate. How can the medium/format of your sketch make it even funnier? We don't need masses of stage directions, but where sound effects play a part in the comedy please make them clear. We can’t have any commercial music as part of the show, so if you want music let us know what song you’d like and we can find a soundalike, or tell us a genre and we’ll be able to find a great piece of library music to fit your sketch.

How to submit

1. Download the template below. Separate templates for each sketch.

2. Write in your sketches - please DO NOT submit sketches in block capitals

3. Upload your sketch in pdf. format to the uploader.

Template:

These are .rtf files - compatible with both MAC and PC, if you’re having trouble opening it please try opening in another programme.

Deadlines

WEEK 1
Submissions open: 7pm Thursday 9 January

Submissions close: 12pm (NOON) Wednesday 15 January

WEEK 2
Submissions open: 7pm, Thursday 16 January

Submissions close: 12pm (NOON) Wednesday 22 January

WEEK 3
Submissions open: 7pm Thursday 23 January

Submissions close: 12pm (NOON) Wednesday 29 January

Submissions after these times or not meeting the above guidelines will NOT be read.

Fees
There is a flat fee that we pay to writers for all non-commissioned material (regardless of the writer's previous experience):
£70 per min for sketch
£35 per 30 seconds for sketch

If your material is used in the broadcast show, this fee will take in all rights for the work on a non-exclusive basis. This means that the fee purchases our right to transmit the material on Radio 4, 4Extra and 麻豆约拍 Sounds but the writer is free to use the material elsewhere.

Be sure to follow us on X:

Accessibility
We are committed to accessibility for all. If you encounter any issues with submitting material, please do email us dmsareopen@bbc.co.uk with your query and we will aim to provide this information in an alternative/accessible format.