Tim Reid (comedy writer)

Tim Reid is a British TV comedy writer. He is known for co-writing and co-creating the BBC One sitcom Peter Kay's Car Share and UKTV's Meet the Richardsons, starring comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont.[1]

Tim Reid
Tim Reid at the Baftas 2023
Tim Reid at the Baftas 2023
BornSolihull, United Kingdom
OccupationComedy writer
NationalityEnglish
EducationSolihull School
GenreComedy
Notable worksPeter Kay's Car Share
Meet the Richardsons

Early life and education

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Reid grew up in Solihull and attended Solihull School.[2]

Career

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Reid started his career working for advertising agencies before specialising in innovation around 2006.[3] He was working as a business consultant for an innovation company when he began writing comedy with colleague Paul Coleman.[4]

After writing a script for a sitcom called Car Share, they sent it to Peter Kay, who Coleman had previously worked with, for feedback; Kay in turn pitched the sitcom to the BBC.[4] "We were just hoping he would give us some feedback and opinions - whether it was a good idea or not and whether the writing was good enough [...] It was a real thrill when he came back and said not only did he really like it but wanted to get involved too," said Reid.[5]

The series premiered on BBC iPlayer in 2015 with Kay in the lead role, becoming the first programme to be released on iPlayer before being broadcast on BBC One.[6] The series drew a peak audience of 9.4 million viewers for the first episode of its second series.[5]

In 2016 Reid and the Car Share writing team won 'Best Comedy Writing on Television' at the British Screenwriters' Awards.[7] The Car Share writing team were also nominated for 'Best Writer - Comedy' at the 2016 British Academy Television Craft Awards[8] and the 2016 Royal Television Society Awards.[9]

In 2017 he was credited as a writer on The Nightly Show.[10]

Reid co-wrote Meet the Richardsons, which follows the fictionalised life of comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont, initially running on UKTV and renewed for a second series in 2020;[11] the series was later shown on BBC Two.[12] Reid also starred as himself in the show as part of a meta plot point where he was co-writing a fictional show with Beaumont.[10] Meet the Richardsons won 'Best Comedy Programme' for 2021 and 2022 at the Broadcast Digital Awards.[13][14]

He has also served as an innovation consultant for brands including Carling and Durex[3] and is a keynote speaker on how to inspire creativity and innovation.[15]

In 2024, Reid launched the podcast Fist of Firsts, where he interviews comedians about their backstories and creative process.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ [1] IMDb. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  2. ^ The Solihull writer sharing a joke or two with Peter Kay Birmingham Post. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b How to think differently and come up with fresh ideas: A conversation with comedy writer and creative consultant Tim Reid World Youth and Student Travel Conference. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b BBC One's Car Share: How a Solihull writer got Peter Kay to star in his sitcom Birmingham Mail. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b Peter Kay's Car Share writers' doubts about hit BBC show revealed amid new release The Express. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  6. ^ Solihull writer's Car Share set to make broadcasting history with iPlayer premiere Business-live.co.uk. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  7. ^ The British Screenwriters' Awards 2016 The British Screenwriters' Awards. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  8. ^ Television Craft in 2016 - BAFTA Awards British Academy Television Craft Awards. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  9. ^ RTS Programme Awards 2016 Royal Television Society Awards. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b Tim Reid Credits - British Comedy Guide British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  11. ^ UKTV comedy Meet the Richardsons commissioned for second series Royal Television Society. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  12. ^ Meet the Richardsons: Credits BBC. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  13. ^ WINNERS 2021 Broadcast Digital Awards. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  14. ^ WINNERS 2022 Broadcast Digital Awards. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  15. ^ Tim Reid - Keynote Speaker London Speaker Bureau. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  16. ^ This 1970s sitcom deserves the same respect as Rising Damp and Porridge: Comedy Writer Tim Reid's Perfect Playlist of comedy favourites Chortle. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  17. ^ New Podcast Talks to Top Comics About the Roots of their Creative Process BeyondTheJoke.co.uk. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.