Interview with Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong

6 Jun 2008

Were there any sitcoms that influenced your writing?
Andrew Lewis, University of Glamorgan

Seinfeld is probably the biggest single influence - it has taught us so much, especially about plotting and how to handle character without losing one's unique tone. The right balance between observational humour and hardcore plotting is something we're always trying to strike in Peep Show and I think Seinfeld does that extremely well.

Have you noticed any examples of Peep Show influencing new sitcoms? For example, the portrayal of the character Will in the new Channel 4 show The Inbetweeners seems to draw on Mark and interact with characters who share similarities with Jeremy.
Christina Wyer, Warwick University

Well that might be because The Inbetweeners was co-written by our script editor and original commissioner at Channel 4, Iain Morris! Although I think it would be unfair to label the show a Peep Show knock-off, it's very original in its own right. Probably it would be fairer to say that we cannibalised Iain's personality before he got the chance to do it himself!

Some of the sketches have seemed quite extraordinary, for example cooking and eating a dog! In hindsight, do you ever think you have taken an idea too far?
Frankie Pryse-Jones, Warwick University

We're keen not to make a 'gross-out' show although we do seemed to have strayed into that territory in recent series. Certainly on occasion I've felt a bit queasy watching the show back - although that can be a good sign that you've hit a sensitive spot, sometimes we're probably guilty of overegging the pudding.

Is the show popular in the US? Are there any plans to remake it?
Ewan Jones Morris, International Film School Wales

The show has been on BBC America, but it’s not a hit over there. Spike TV are currently planning to make another pilot. Fox had a go a few years and the result was pretty disappointing, hopefully the new version will be better, we’re more closely involved and there’s a great director on board. Getting the casting right will be the hardest thing.

Has the mixed critical reception to Magicians soured any ambitions to write for the big screen again?
Louise Bartmann, Aberystwyth University

No I don’t think so. Getting a film right is hard and I think we know what we thought worked well and what we’d alter if we did it again. We’ve got a few film ideas and we aim to write another screenplay this year.

Can you give out any details of the long-rumoured collaboration between yourselves and Chris Morris? I need to find out more details!!
Mark Lewis, Aberystwyth University

Don’t think we really can at this stage. Sounds exciting doesn’t it? Hope people don’t get disappointed when the range of chutneys he’s been developing and we’ve been taste-testing for him comes out.

For any aspiring comedy writers out there what do you think is the best way to get into the industry, or at least, get your work read?
James Nee, Festival Coordinator

Sounds corny but write something you love. Give it a good while, show it to people you trust, keep it, groom it, when you think it’s as good as you can get it on your own, then send it out to everyone you can think of – agents, TV companies, independents, BBC talent schemes. Be creative. If there’s a show you like on radio or TV note the name of writers and producers – use the internet to find out their agents, who makes the show and write to them saying you admire the show and would love your work to have the same sort of impact, or something.