BBC Three reveals new comedy pilots

BBC Three controller Julian Bellamy and controller of comedy commissioning Cheryl Taylor have commissioned six new comedy pilots for the channel.

BBC Scotland has produced Raging, a sketch show from a gay perspective, executive produced by the department's head of comedy and entertainment, Alan Tyler.

The Coming of Age is written by 18-year-old writer Tim Dawson and follows five teenagers as they head towards adulthood. It is executive produced by BBC Creative head of mainstream comedy Michael Jacob.

Other pilots include sketch show Spacehopper, which is billed as appealing to the "hidden juvenile delinquent" in everyone, and has been developed by BBC Comedy North. The unit has also produced Sound, a sitcom that tells the story of two friends who leave their council jobs in Manchester to set up their own record label.

Independent Bwark Productions has developed The Scum Also Rises, which follows the lives of three friends who work for an advertising agency, and is executive produced by Damon Beesley.

Hartswood Films has made Biffovision, a sketch show which using the format of a Saturday morning kids TV and is hosted by Hugo and a puppet sidekick, BW. The pilot has been executive produced by Sue Vertue.

All six pilots are planned to appear on the channel later this month.

Elsewhere, Broadcast has announced that writer and actor Stephen Merchant is to be the keynote speaker at its Comedy Forum next month. The forum will consider how to have a hit show, how to nurture new talent and what comedy commissioners really want.