OFF SCRIPT October 2025: Comedy Writing & Panel Shows

Got funny bones, wondered if writing comedy or working on panel shows and formats was for you? Or just a bit nosey on the process and how those projects come together? Join us alongside another pair of talented speakers, Matthew Crosby and Ruth Husko.

Matthew Crosby

Matthew Crosby is a much sought after writer, comedian and broadcaster. He made his name as one third of sketch and podcasting team Pappy’s with whom he was twice nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award and wrote and starred in two series of the sitcom Badults for BBC 3.

He has written for a variety of TV shows including 8/10 Cats, Mock The Week, Blankety Blank, Unspeakable, Late Night Lycett, Celebrity Juice, The Now Show, Ivo Graham’s Obsessions, Jon and Lucy’s Odd Couples, Smart TV, Comic Relief and the National Comedy Awards. He is the head writer on The Great British Bake Off and The Traitors Uncloaked and for the past 13 years has been a key member of the writing team of Channel 4’s The Last Leg.

Together with comedians Josh Widdicombe and Tom Craine he co-created the improvised panel show Hypothetical for Dave and the BBC, which ran for 4 series.

He co-hosts the Ed Gamble and Matthew Crosby show Radio X every Sunday morning and the hit podcast Pappy’s Flatshare Slamdown.

Ruth Husko

Ruth Husko is a working class comedy writer from the Black Country. She is a BBC comedy staff writer, has written for Channel 4’s ‘Late Night Lycett’ (Series 1 & 2), BBC Radio’s ‘DMs Are Open’ and ‘Ivo Graham’s Obsessions’. She has also recently worked as script editor and writer for ‘Lindsey Santoro’s Lively Life’, coming soon to BBC Radio 4. Ruth has also appeared on acclaimed podcasts including ‘Richard Herring’s RHLSTP’, ‘The Upshot’ and ‘Scroobius Pip’s Distraction Pieces’. Online, Ruth runs a Twitter/X account as @dank_ackroyd, where she shares deep dives into retro pop culture, 80s telly and asks Tesco why can’t you have a mini bottle of Prosecco in the meal deal. In her spare time, Ruth enjoys Wordle, Take a Break and upsetting herself by looking at flats in Clerkenwell she can’t afford.

Please note: we will be in our usual venue of Fitzroy Tavern, but we will be trialling using one of the upstairs rooms. Do speak to the bar staff on arrival if you need directions.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte Street, London, United Kingdom