James Bishop and Chris Douch are a children’s / comedy writing team. They have recently been working with Blue Zoo, Tiger Aspect Kids and Family, and Blacklist Creative on the development of new animation projects for a range of age groups.
Bishop and Douch have written for popular children’s television series including the new series of Big Cook Little Cook, Best and Bester, Justin’s House, Crackerjack, Diddy TV, Gigglebiz and My Petsaurus. They previously contributed to adult sketch shows such as The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, Watson and Oliver and were commissioned by Funny or Die to create a series of exclusive web comedy sketches.
Their original children’s sitcom script Kelly is Famous has been shortlisted for BBC Writersroom (2018), BAFTA Rocliffe Children, Family and YA (2019) and the David Nobbs Memorial Trust (2019). Other original projects in development include the narrative podcast series Bad Influence, the animated preschool series Jungle Fruit, and the audio sketch show Delete if Not Allowed.
James and Chris also work independently. Chris is a regular contributor to BBC radio comedies such as DMs Are Open, Breaking the News, Newsjack, and the multi-award-winning Radio 4 series The Skewer and in 2022 his joke was selected as one of Gold TV’s top 10 modern Christmas cracker jokes. He wrote weekly topical jokes for Union Jack Radio and in 2020 he was commissioned to write eight episodes of their podcast series, Brian Blessed’s Bedtime Stories. James is an accomplished children’s author whose work includes the Iguana Boy trilogy and The Worst Day Ever! (published by Hodder Children’s).
| Bishop & Douch – Television (broadcast): | |
|---|---|
| Untitled | Blue Zoo Animation One 5′ script commissioned. |
| Best and Bester | Eye Present / Nickelodeon Two 11′ scripts commissioned for the Nickelodeon animated series. |
| Big Cook Little Cook | Dot to Dot Productions / CBeebies Two scripts commissioned for the new series of the revamped CBeebies favourite. |
| Justin’s House | BBC Children’s Productions / CBeebies Two scripts commissioned for returning long form live action CBeebies show starring Justin Fletcher. Producer: Victoria Harrison |
| Crackerjack | BBC Children’s Productions / CBBC Sketch writing the Children’s BAFTA-nominated second series of the legendary children’s TV reboot hosted by Sam and Mark. Producer: Rob Jenkinson / Phillip Cooper |
| My Petsaurus | Bumpy Box / CBeebies Script writing for two episodes of the fourth and fifth series of the animated/ live action preschool series for CBeebies. Producer: Sam Wright / Tracy Bowerman |
| Crackerjack | BBC Children’s Productions / CBBC Sketch writing for the reboot of the legendary children’s TV programme hosted by Sam and Mark. Producer: Jamie Wilson |
| My Petsaurus | Bumpy Box / CBeebies Script writing for two episodes of the third series (2019) of the animated/live action preschool series for CBeebies. Producer: Sam Wright |
| Gigglebiz | BBC Children’s Productions / Cbeebies Sketch writing for the fifth series (2018) of the BAFTA winning comedy series for 4-7 year olds, starring Justin Fletcher. Series Producer: Anna Perowne |
| Diddy TV | BBC Children’s Productions / CBBC Sketch writing for series three and four of the BAFTA nominated children’s comedy starring Dick and Dom. Series Producer: Steve Ryde |
| Breaking the News | BBC Studios / BBC Scotland TV Chris Douch: Gag writing since Series 1 (2019) for the TV broadcast of the topical panel show hosted by Des Clarke. Series 2 Producers (2019): Stephen Hollywood / David Flynn Series 1 Producers (2019): Lauren Mackey / David Flynn |
| The Impressionists Sketch Show | BBC (non-broadcast pilot) Sketch writing for the pilot of a new impressions series starring Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona. Producer: Simon London |
| Watson and Oliver | BBC / BBC2 Live studio intro/sketch writing for the double-act comedy series starring Lorna Watson and Ingrid Oliver. Producer: Simon London |
| The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson | BBC / BBC1 Sketch writing for series two and three of the primetime impression show starring Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson. Producer: Richard Webb |
| The Jason Lewis Experience | BBC (non-broadcast pilot) Sketch writing for the pilot episode of a new comedy series starring Jason Lewis. Producer: Nana Hughes |
| Bishop & Douch – Television (development services): | |
|---|---|
| Untitled | Ragdoll Productions Writing development materials for a new series in development. |
| Untitled | Tiger Aspect Kids & Family Commissioned to develop and write materials and a 1 x 11’ episode for a new animation series in development |
| Untitled | Blacklist Creative Commissioned to develop and write materials for a new adult animation series in development |
| Untitled | Blue Zoo Commissioned to develop and write pitch materials and 1 x 22′ episode for a new animation series in development. |
| Untitled | Blacklist Creative Commissioned to develop and write pitch materials for a new animation series in development. |
| Bishop & Douch – Television (original projects in development): | |
|---|---|
| Jungle Fruit | Animated preschool series. A playful 6-year-old tiger discovers his new city surroundings through the window of his family’s fruit delivery business |
| Kelly is Famous | Live action children’s sitcom: After appearing in a TV advert, an ordinary twelve-year-old girl unwillingly becomes a celebrity in her village. Shortlisted: BAFTA Rocliffe 2019 (Children’s & YA) Shortlisted: David Nobbs Memorial Trust Competition 2019 Shortlisted: BBC Writersroom Comedy Window 2018 |
| Bishop & Douch – Radio / Podcast (original projects in development): | |
|---|---|
| Bad Influence | Audio sitcom. A 12-year-old girl finds that every day is a new challenge when you belong to a family of influencers. |
| Delete If Not Allowed | Audio sketch show exploring the political minefield of social media community groups in modern day Britain |
| Chris Douch – Radio (broadcast): | |
|---|---|
| DM’s Are Open | BBC Studios / Radio 4 Extra Sketch commission for and contributor to the first series of BBC’s new sketch show. |
| The Skewer | Unusual Productions / Radio 4 Contributor to two series of the topical comedy. Producer: Jon Holmes |
| Brian Blessed’s Bedtime Stories | Union Jack Radio Commissioned to write episodes of the Union Jack podcast series. 8 x 5 min episodes commissioned. Producer: Giles Gear |
| Breaking the News | BBC Studios / BBC Radio Scotland Gag writing for 9 series of the topical radio panel show hosted by Des Clarke. |
| Newsjack Unplugged | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Extra One-liner joke writing for Series 4 & 5 |
| Newsjack | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Extra Sketch and one-liner writing for the topical radio sketch show since 2018. Chris has contributed to six consecutive series (s19 – 24) and has been commissioned to attend the writers room for s23 and s24. |
| Union Jack | Jack Media Oxfordshire / Jack Stations Writing gameshow content for the Full English Breakfast show. |
| JackFm | Jack Media Oxfordshire / Jack Stations Gag writing for the iconic ‘The Voice of Jack’ character (performed by Jim Rosenthal, previously Paul Darrow) for broadcast between songs across the four Jack stations (JackFm, Jack 2, Jack 3 and Union Jack). 2019 – 2022. Producer: Phil Atkins |
| Bishop & Douch – Online: | |
|---|---|
| Funny or Die Exclusives | Funny or Die Sketch writing and performance in a series of original commissions for the website Funny or Die, founded by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy. Producer: James Serafinowicz |
| Bishop and Douch Online Content | Self-produced Wrote, produced and starred in a large collection of online videos over 2007 – 2014 that featured performances from top comedians including David Cross, Kristen Schaal, John Mulaney, Sean Lock, Jon Benjamin, Kay Cannon, Joel McHale, and various others. In 2011 to 2013, ran the online campaign ‘Hanson at My Wedding’ which gained international media attention. |
| Bishop & Douch – Theatre: | |
|---|---|
| Bishop and Douch at Sesame Lane | PBH’s Free Fringe Wrote, produced and starred in this 2008 Edinburgh Fringe stage show, which was part of PBH’s Free Fringe series. |
| James Bishop – Novels (published): | |
|---|---|
| The Worst Day Ever! | Hodder Children’s Books A new book from James Bishop, aimed at readers ages 7-9. Published 6th January 2022 |
| Iguana Boy and the Golden Toothbrush | Hodder Children’s Books Book three of James’ book series aimed at readers ages 7–9. Published 25th July 2019. |
| Iguana Boy Vs. the 30 Second Thief! | Hodder Children’s Books Book two in James’ solo project, aimed at readers ages 7–9. Published 6th September 2018. |
| Iguana Boy Saves the World With a Triple Cheese Pizza | Hodder Children’s Books Book one in James’ solo project, aimed at readers ages 7–9. Published 19th April 2018. |