A workshop celebrating Manchester’s rich heritage of working-class female comedians on television, from Caroline Aherne to Sophie Willan.

Led by Dr Laura Minor, Lecturer in Television Studies, and Ric Michael, former Head of Development for Baby Cow Manchester and Development Producer on Gavin & Stacey, this session explores how women use comedy to tell stories about class, gender, and the realities of life up North.

Through creative writing exercises inspired by The Royle Family and other local comedies, participants will explore how to transform their own experiences into comedy gold and how humour can be a powerful tool for storytelling and social commentary.

The session concludes with a group discussion about getting working-class women’s voices heard in contemporary British television.