Alternative comedy and sketch comedy, consisted of Manchester University and Royal Central School graduates Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders, who began to aim their talents at television. As "The Comic Strip Presents", the group made over 40 television films for both Channel 4 and BBC. Ben Elton, who had by then become the Comedy Store's next MC, was invited by Rik Mayall to join him as co-writer of BBC2's TV hit sitcom "The Young Ones". However, it was as MC of Channel 4's new comedy show "Saturday Live" that Elton found fame in his own right.
Doug MacLeod (TV writer) "Dogstar" which won him the inaugural John Hinde prize for science fiction in 2008. He is currently working on series two with co-writer Philip Dalkin. In 2008 Doug won the Fred Parsons Award for Contribution to Australian Comedy at the Australian Writer Guilds Awards. He is currently the writer of "Call Girl the Musical", with Tracy Harvey which has performed two seasons in Melbourne. With John Clarke, he co-wrote a musical adaptation of the children's book "Snugglepot and Cuddlepie", titled "The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom." He has written the following story books for children and