Class clowns urged to enter comedy contest

BUDDING comedians in Oldham school's are being urged to show off their skills by entering the BBC's Comedy Classroom competition.

The new writing competition is a collaboration between BBC Learning, BBC Comedy and the National Literacy Trust.

The competition gives year nine and year 10 students aged 13 to 15 the chance to have their winning comedy work made and broadcast by the BBC this autumn.

It aims to provide a fun and inspiring way to engage students by helping schools find the funny side of literacy, and by demonstrating how literacy (reading, writing and speaking) is the bedrock of good comedy and comedy writing.

Students across the country will compete to be the best Class Joker (stand-up), Class Act (sketch) and Class Comic (captions).

Pupils can enter up to two categories on their own or as part of a group of up to four people.

Entries must be uploaded by teachers before the competition closes on July 24.

Judges will be looking for entries that are well written, funny, original and creative, and show characterisation.

Winners in each category will have their work made and broadcast by the BBC in the autumn.

They will also receive a Comedy Classroom trophy, a signed certificate and a visit from a BBC Comedy comedian to their school.

To find out more or enter the competition visit bbc.co.uk/comedyclassroom