Welcome to Female Pilot Club's High Flyers. In this new series, pilot-clubbers Kay Stonham, Emily Chase & Chelsea Kania talk to women writers who have successfully navigated the commissioning process to land a greenlit TV, radio or film comedy and find out what they did to make their project take off. Listen and learn as our High Flyers reveal how they soared above the hurdles, not just surviving but thriving as women writers in the notoriously male atmosphere of the British Comedy industry. Female Pilot Club exists to shine a light on great new comedy writing by women through showcases with…
Episodes
Jess Bray on her break out Channel 4 hit Break Clause!
24 Sept 2026 · 1 h 10
In the very first episode of High Flyers, Female Pilot Club's Kay Stonham hears how Jess Bray navigated the long and winding road to getting her first sitcom Break Clause commissioned by Channel 4. Jess talks about the triumphs and pitfalls of her early career, giving top tips on how to build your…
Emily Lloyd-Saini (Juice, Motherland and Catastrophe)
23 Feb 2024 · 43 min
In this episode Kay and Emily talk to Emily Lloyd-Saini (Juice, Motherland and Catastrophe) about her dream experience in a writers’ room, how everyone needs a great comedy partner in their life, and how she doesn’t, repeat, doesn’t want her own TV sketch show! #comedy #femalewriter #femalewriting…
Arabella Weir (The Fast Show, Two Doors Down)
9 Feb 2024 · 54 min
Kay and Emily talk to Arabella Weir (The Fast Show, Two Doors Down) about the highs and lows of life as a female writer/performer in the nineties, how she has her bum to thank for her career, and why she’s more of a bauble than a full blown national treasure. #comedy #femalewriter #femalewriting…
Sydney Stevenson (Misfits, Me and Mrs Jones)
19 Jan 2024 · 47 min
Emily and Kay talk to Sydney Stevenson (Misfits, Me and Mrs Jones) about what actors bring to scriptwriting, why she almost gave it all up, and what it’s like to get three scripts into development from one showcase. #comedy #femalewriter #femalewriting #sitcom #scriptedcomedy #tvcommissioning…
Gina Lyons ( In My Skin, Dreaming Whilst Black)
5 Jan 2024 · 47 min
Kay and Emily talk to independent producer Gina Lyons ( In My Skin, Dreaming Whilst Black) and find out what a comedy producer actually does, why everyone needs a side hustle and why it’s good to be a ‘Gobby Girl.’ #comedy #femalecomedy #sitcom #comedywriting #tvwriting #funnywomen Female Pilot…
Leigh Douglas (You’re Alright Hun, Sacrament)
1 Dec 2023 · 44 min
In this episode actor, writer & stand up comedian Leigh Douglas (You’re Alright Hun, Sacrament) talks about her experiences on the UKTV/FPC Script Initiative, gives useful tips on writing queer characters and spills the tea on her very own I Tonya moment in the world of Irish dancing. #writing…
Abigail Burdess (Tracy Ullman's Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look)
2 Mar 2023 · 41 min
In this special episode Kay and Emily welcome back writer-performer extraordinaire and co-founder of the Female Pilot Club Abigail Burdess! Abbie gives tips on gag writing, spare husbands and explains how she embraced her inner thriller writer to pen her exciting debut novel Mother's Day! Female…
Sioned Wiliam (Former commissioning editor of comedy for ITV and Radio 4)
19 Jan 2023 · 54 min
In a Female Pilot Club first Kay and Emily talk to former controller of comedy for ITV, and ex - commissioning editor of comedy for Radio 4. Sioned, who is also a producer and writer, gives us the hot sauce on how the commissioning process actually works. So writers looking to get their first…
Ruby Carr (Funny Women Comedy Writing Award Winner, 2022)
20 Dec 2022 · 37 min
Ruby was also named a Funny Women “One to Watch’ in 2021, and her pilot made the top ten for the 2021 "Voices of the Future" Scheme. In this episode Kay and Emily find out why Ruby doesn’t like magicians and get her hot take on how to handle hecklers. Thanks to our series 2 sponsor BlueCat…
Zara Janjua (BBC Comedy Writers Room 2020 and Woman of the future Finalist 2020)
6 Dec 2022 · 51 min
Zara Janjua is a successful multi-hyphen TV professional. As well as her work as a comedy writer, presenter, film-maker, actor, course facilitator, journalist and event host she was named one of the Top 40 Digital Women in the UK and shortlisted for 'Digital Women For Good' and 'Freelancer of The…
Samantha Lyden and Teresa Burns (Funny Women Award Winners 2019)
24 Nov 2022 · 43 min
Samantah Lyden and Teresa Burns (Funny Women Award Winners 2019) In this episode Kay and Emily try to decide who's more working class, find out about Carmelite nuns and reveal their worst side hustles, all while being firmly outclassed by the funny and talented writing partnership, Lyden and Burns…
Athena Kugblenu (Athena's Cancel Culture)
1 Nov 2022 · 45 min
In this episode Athena Kugblenu, stand-up comedian, comedy writer, and journalist shares invaluable tips about sit-com structure, bike-riding and how she survives and thrives in that ultimate ordeal - the writers room. Thanks to our series 2 sponsor BlueCat Screenplay Competition! Learn more at…
Kerry Howard (Jack Absolute Flies Again)
13 Oct 2022 · 47 min
In the first episode of series 2, the clubbers meet actor, writer and all round comedy queen Kerry Howard!! We ask her about her new project with Sky, how she fits it all in whilst still looking so fit, and how putting it out to the universe got her a top gig at the National Theatre. Thanks to our…
Lorna Woolfson (Have I Got News for You, BAFTA Rockliffe Finalist)
5 Jul 2022 · 41 min
This week Kay and Abby meet comedy writer and podcaster Lorna Woolffson to talk about historical sit-com and women, do jokes have structure or are they eggs laid in the brains of male comedians by giant lizards, and why everyone loves a good Piss. Female Pilot Club exists to shine a light on great…
Pip Swallow (Great Expectations)
23 Mar 2022 · 39 min
The clubbers ask where all the new British political satire is at, how gross is too gross if you're the proud possessor of a lumpy jumper, and can women be surreal even without both eyes on the same side of their face. Female Pilot Club exists to shine a light on great new comedy writing by women…
Rachel Clarke (Bad Things)
23 Feb 2022 · 45 min
In this episode Abbie and Kay find out how new writer Rachel Clarke, winner of All3 Media Best Drama New Voices Award, Screenwriting Network Award, and Channel 4 Mentorship Scheme, became so good so fast! They also chat about what makes a good double act, the perennial appeal of comedy crime…
Julie Bower (So Awkward)
9 Feb 2022 · 52 min
Kay and Abbie talk romcom and kids’ comedy with writer Julie Bower. Find out about the clubbers favourite comic obstacles to romance, what’s worse than swearing in a script for kids’ TV and which creator of a legendary comic character is nominated for the club! Featuring clips from “Death’s Ex”,…
Janice Hallett (Two Ladies, The Appeal, The Twyford Code)
19 Jan 2022 · 45 min
This week Pilot Clubbers Kay and Abbie talk comedy, crime and what to do if your writing or career has hit a wall with Janice Hallett. Janice's first novel “The Appeal” and was Sunday Times Crime book of the Year and her recently published second, “The Twyford Code” was featured in the latest…
Georgia Pritchett (Succession, The Shrink Next Door)
4 Jan 2022 · 55 min
Female Pilot Clubbers Kay Stonham and Abigail Burdess talk with Georgia Pritchett about the club production of her script Bump , her experiences on Veep and Succession and why until recently four breasts were never allowed in the same TV comedy writers room. Featuring the voices of Greg McHugh,…
Female Pilot Club - Trailer
2 Dec 2021 · 1 min
The Female Pilot Club is a club to celebrate comedy written by women! Pilot-clubbers Kay Stonham and Abigail Burdess get women TV writers to spill their secrets, from the new and annoyingly talented, to seasoned and annoyingly successful Emmy award winners. We chat about gags and gaffs, what makes…