I went through the motions of writing around 1982. By 1983 I had re-consulted the manual and it said that I needed to be holding a pen or pencil of some kind. On Bonfire Night 1983 I had sold my first joke to Jennie Campbell, Producer of Week Ending on BBC Radio 4. Jennie was really receptive to new writers at that time and I'm sure I read in a Rory Bremner interview that Jennie helped him start his career. I continued contributing to Week Ending, also to The News Huddlines on BBC Radio 2, before eventually writing for television.
I've either written for or had my sketches shown in many countries around the World. I don't think I have cracked Iran or Iraq yet but there's still time! Overall I'm pleased with what I have achieved, especially as I only set out to sell one joke or sketch to prove a point. Then I got the bug. Below is a short list of helpful, courteous people I have met, spoken to or corresponded with along the way: