Harry Venning is an award winning comedy writer, cartoonist and performer based in Brighton.
A recent UK Art Trust Strip Cartoonist Of The Year, Harry developed his weekly strip cartoon Clare in the Community, which features in The Guardian, into the successful BBC Radio 4 sitcom about the misadventures of the empathy-free social worker. Starring Sally Philipps, Harry co-wrote Clare in the Community with David Ramsden and it has run for 12 series, plus several specials, and won a Sony Radio Award. He has also created and written the Radio 4 comedies Sneakiepeeks and Coach Karen’s Half Time Team Talk.
Harry’s cartoon work has appeared in publications as diverse as The Telegraph, The Radio Times and Music Teacher, and his strip Hamlet has been a regular fixture in The Stage for a number of years.
When not at a desk writing or drawing, Harry tours his cartoon workshop Release Your Inner Cartoonist around schools, theatres, arts centres and festivals. He also works as a graphic visualizer, providing live cartoons to accompany conferences and team building events, as well as being a fully accredited lecturer for the UK Arts Society.
He has a partner called Geri, a daughter called Minnie, a cat called Petal and a bald patch.
| Radio (broadcast): | |
|---|---|
| Clare in the Community | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Creator and co-writer (along with David Ramsden) of the 74 episodes of the award winning Radio 4 sitcom starring Sally Phillips. Series 12 (2019): 6 x 30’ Series 11 (2016): 6 x 30’ Series 10 (2015): 6 x 30’ Christmas with Clare Barker (2014): 1 x 15’ Series 9 (2014): 6 x 30’ Edinburgh Special (2013): 1 x 30’ Series 8 (2013): 6 x 30 Series 7 (2011): 6 x 30’ Series 6 (2010): 6 x 30’ Series 5 (2009): 6 x 30’ Series 4 (2008): 6 x 30’: Series 3 (2006 / 2007): 6 x 30’ Series 2 (2005): 6 x 30’ Series 1 (2004): 6 x 30’ WINNER: Bronze, Radio Comedy – Sony Radio Academy Awards 2005 |
| Hazel Tours | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Creator and co-writer (along with David Ramsden) of this pilot for a new series following Hazel Begg, local historian, giving tours of her hometown, Weith. 1 x 30’ (2019) |
| Coach Karen’s Half Time Team Talk | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Creator and writer of this series stripped across the week revealing the half-time team talks of a poorly performing girls’ football team. 5 x 15’ (2019) |
| Deep Space Death Cruise | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Creator and writer of one-off comic monologue about a doomed space cruise starring Jeff Rawle. 1 x 15’ (2018) |
| Sneakiepeeks | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Co-creator and co-writer (along with Neil Brand) of sitcom about surveillance operatives. 6 x 30’ (2009 / 2010) |
| Fringe Benefits | BBC Studios / BBC Radio 4 Writer of comic short story narrated by Jonathan Cullen. 1 x 15’ (1993) |