Nev Fountain is an award-winning writer, chiefly known for his work on the BBC sketch show Dead Ringers in both TV and radio incarnations. He has also contributed to many other programs, including Have I Got News for You and Newzoids. He is a principal gag writer for satirical magazine Private Eye and contributes to every issue.
He first came to write for Doctor Who when he script-edited the BBC online story "Death Comes to Time" in 2001, and has gone on to write some of Big Finish’s most popular audios, including "The Kingmaker" and "Peri and the Piscon Paradox." His books include The Mervyn Stone Mysteries, The Fan Who Knew too Much, and its sequel, Lies and Dolls, which was released in July.
Nev talks with me about how he got his start writing radio comedy, the challenges of writing comedy even about very serious events, writing for various forms and media, leaving room to be surprised as you’re writing, and more.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
04:02 Teachers encouraged Nev; family humor shaped his view.
08:21 Comedy influences: The Young Ones, Blackadder, Hitchhiker’s Guide.
12:27 Breaking into radio comedy.
16:03 Playwriting taught Nev what makes audiences laugh—live.
20:22 Writing comedy about tragic events; satire offers relief and perspective.
24:23 Dead Ringers’ hiatus, revival, and Jon Culshaw’s Tom Baker calls.
28:47 Sketches with Ozzy Osbourne, behind-the-scenes stories from TV comedy.
33:46 Nev’s serendipitous first Doctor Who project, "Death Comes to Time."
39:23 The process and impact of "Death Comes to Time" explained.
46:31 Challenges and expectations of writing “big” stories in franchises.
52:18 Emphasizing medium-specific storytelling; novels, radio, TV all differ.
58:14 Enjoying creative surprises; writing unfolds beyond outlines or plans.
Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing, theatre, and Doctor Who.
If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.
Check out the full show notes--with videos of Nev's work and links to his books—at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.
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If you’re tired of waiting for “someday”—which is NOT a day of the week—to get unstuck and step toward your creative dream, we should talk.
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