TwitterTitters book raising cash for Comic Relief

Mar 8 2009 by Anna Blackaby, Birmingham Post

A new collection of comedy writing created by a Midland journalist using social networking site Twitter is set to raise money for Comic Relief this week.

The TwitterTitters book, which has won the backing of comedians Dave Spikey and Nat Coombs, is donating all proceeds to the charity, which holds its annual Red Nose Day on Friday.

The project, organised by Staffordshire agency director Linda Jones, of Passionate Media, and Manchester journalist Louise Bolotin, invited comic writers to submit their work by using the social networking site to raise money for Comic Relief. The project has also been supported by Midland PR company Punch Communications.

A panel of four judges, including former Birmingham Post books editor Jayne Howarth, selected the best comic writing to go into the book, which includes exclusive new writing from Phoenix Nights co-creator Dave Spikey and a foreword from Nat Coombs, whose comedy Chelsey: OMG! is an online phenomenon.

Mr Spikey has submitted a previously unseen story, The Best Medicine, for the collection, which is an excerpt from his book I Gave him my Kidney, then he Stole my Heart.

Mr Spikey said: “Not only is Comic Relief simply a great cause, but this particular project offers a brilliant opportunity for new writers.

“It’s fantastic that up-and-coming comedy writers can contribute to collections like TwitterTitters. Hopefully some stars of the future will be discovered through it.”

Mr Coombs added: “TwitterTitters is a terrific project, and I feel privileged to be in a position where I can help raise a laugh for Comic Relief whilst promoting young writing talent at the same time.

“Every year Comic Relief seems to raise more and more for good causes, and hopefully TwitterTitters can help push the total up. I was particularly keen to help as we have seen Chelsey: OMG! gain over two million hits online and was keen to help writing through another social networking medium.”

TwitterTitters organiser Linda Jones said she was bowled over by the backing from the two writers: “I am a massive, massive fan of Phoenix Nights so to get the backing of Dave Spikey is a bit surreal,” she said.

“We are hugely grateful for the backing of both Dave and Nat and are really looking forward to raising as much money as we can for Comic Relief. Chelsey: OMG! is a great social networking success story and we hope TwitterTitters can cause a similar stir.

“While this is a fun project, we feel privileged to do our bit to help fund the wonderful work done by Comic Relief in the UK and abroad.”

Ms Bolotin said the judging panel had been very impressed with the submissions:.

“We’ve had more than 70 entries in a whole variety of different formats. We’ve had everything from monologues, to poems, short stories, and blog posts. I love a laugh, and it’s heart-warming to see so much comic talent out there, and people doing so much for Comic Relief.

“More than that though, I’ve spoken to our judging panel, and the feedback from them is that the standard of entries is exceptionally high.

“It’s been great to see Twittersphere join forces to tweet – and retweet – messages to promote the book.”

l www.twitter.com/tweehee

l www.twittertitters.com