iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Congratulations to the winners and good luck to everyone taking part in tomorrow’s British Barbecue Championships www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Team win British Fireworks Championships for first time

A team from Kent takes the crown in the British Fireworks Championships in Plymouth.

031

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

So according to my latest appraisal, ‘staring into space thinking about my childhood’ is neither a ‘skill’ nor an ‘ability’.

110

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Had lots of fun writing for What Just Happened? again this week- catch up on that there BBC Sounds. For maximum impact, before pressing play have the voice in your head say, “And now on BBC Radio Wales, it’s the last in the present series of What Just Happened?” www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

What Just Happened? - Series 4 - Priya Hall, Anna Thomas, Will Hayward and Kiri Pritchard-McLean - BBC Sounds

Comedy panel show hosted by Robin Morgan.

051

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Bore da motherfuckers! Forget the northern lights, here’s a rare Welsh blue sky.

130

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

The brilliant What Just Happened? is back! Had a lot of fun in the room for this - it was much more lighthearted than the film Room and I think the edit really reflects that. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

What Just Happened? - Series 4 - Esyllt Sears, Tadiwa Mahlunge, Anna Thomas and Kiri Pritchard-McLean - BBC Sounds

Comedy panel show hosted by Robin Morgan.

062

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

White album, Let It Be and Abbey Road basically recorded within a 15 month period!

000

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

After 7 years of writing for Breaking the News, I reached the stage where the words ‘CalMac Ferries’ were enough to give me a migraine. I did write some stuff for it this week though; it’s very funny if Scottish news doesn’t make you physically ill: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Breaking the News - Amanda Dwyer, Jamie MacDonald, Kim Blythe and Stephen Buchanan - BBC Sounds

Des Clarke hosts Scotland's award-winning satirical news quiz.

081

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

And wow, I can’t believe I’ve been listening to you for six whole years. I guess you’re doing something right! That Springsteen Born to End ‘bit’ seems like yesterday…

010

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

I liked this album *just enough* to keep it in rotation and it’s really grown on me. Weirdly, if I have limited time, I tend to start at Dear Stephen and listen through to the end. Production is samey but the songs are strong. I am another one of those middle-aged grumpy Welshmen though.

110

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

The most common pub name in Britain is commonly thought to be ‘The Red Lion’. However, having conducted my own analysis of pub signage, the most common name actually appears to be ‘Sky Sports Live Here’.

120

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Yeah, Chris confirmed they went with a different wording. Funny old business - when I think about some of the things I’ve been paid for which were script-edited beyond all recognition!

420

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Don’t really bother posting rejected gags anymore, but this must be the closest ‘nearly’ I’ve had in six years of writing for #BreakingtheNews : Acknowledging the programme’s mistakes, Tom Daley bent over backwards to apologise, followed by a reverse somersault with three and a half twists.

170

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Cumulative Impact is a great film about Earth getting destroyed by a series of small asteroids.

100

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Great little tip for giving somebody ham: Give them a piece of good news, then give them the ham, then give them another piece of good news. This is called ‘A Ham Sandwich’.

000

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Always a pleasure to be on the writing team for this wonderful panel show. It’s not a proscribed show so you may listen without being arrested. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

What Just Happened? - Series 3 - with Leila Navabi, Esyllt Sears, Carwyn Blayney and Kiri Pritchard-McLean - BBC Sounds

Robin Morgan, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and guests take a look back at the week's news.

020

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

It’s probably worth it to get in with Jon - he produces a lot of stuff! I felt my Skewer credit gave me an in and let me pitch stuff for Dead Ringers.

020

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Must admit I gave up on The Skewer as soon as I got a sketch on. Sometimes you just have to accept that you don’t have the time to do something - though it’s difficult to let go of the writing FOMO!

100

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Haha, quite. Although I’m not really complaining, but this is a good example of the financial reality of many comedy writing opportunities.

120

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Wait ‘til they hear about spending 5 hours a week writing 50 gags for Breaking the News only to MAYBE get £20 IF one of them gets broadcast 😆

0153

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Impressed you’re paying so much! Completely in line with more ‘established’ sites.

051

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

One of the joys of exploring McCartney’s back catalogue is discovering that albums which don’t have a fantastic reputation are often pretty great.

110

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Yeah, I’d literally had a couple of dreams about being LW and not getting anything on (I know that can happen and doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of material)! I was surprisingly relaxed when it came to it, although having some early gags on definitely helped!

020

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Cheers, Gregor. Yep, that was my first time 🙂

100

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Cheers, Gregor! Yeah, definitely a nice way to round off the week.

010

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

One of my sketches was on this week’s Dead Ringers. Buzzing like those bees that killed Macaulay Culkin in that film about a kid who gets killed by bees. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Dead Ringers - Series 26 - Episode 3. Glastonbury, Benefits, and Bombs - BBC Sounds

Satirical impressions from the team headed up by Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens.

150

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

I won’t take it personally. Good luck for next week!

100

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

You there! Take your hands out of your pockets, sit up straight, and listen to the first episode of the new series of #BreakingtheNews! Includes a few bits of nonsense from me. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Breaking the News - Mark Nelson, Ria Lina, Elaine Malcolmson and Stuart McPherson - BBC Sounds

Des Clarke hosts Scotland's award-winning satirical news quiz.

140

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

What if the very act of trying the door to make sure it was locked somehow unlocked the door…?

010

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Have become slightly addicted to Slow Jam off of that new Pulp album.

111

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Everyone remembers the Catchphrase episode where it looks like Mr Chips is masturbating. What people forget is that Mr Chips WAS actually masturbating and the answer was: ‘Wanking yourself silly’. Different times…

020

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

That’s it, I’m suing the author of The Complete Guitar Player for lost rock star earnings.

110

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Deleted scene from The Matrix where the machines have to wiggle the humans to keep the remote working.

010

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

My dad to The Wurzels: It will have lost half its value the moment it left the forecourt.

010

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

My top 3 papal conclaves of my lifetime: - Italia 2013 - Italia 2005 - Italia 2025

010

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

I did this a couple of weeks ago with phenomenal results. Got promoted, got laid, a stranger spontaneously gave me £1,000 cash. But do avoid using ‘I keep thinking it’s Monday’ - absolute downer, complete opposite effect.

031

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Made the mistake of going in to my daughter’s ballet lesson because she was upset. Her enraged teacher manhandled some butterfly wings over my shoulders and forced me to join in. Totally backfired - was headhunted by the Royal Academy and my scholarship begins in the autumn. In your face, Mrs Miles!

030

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Europe writing The Final Countdown: Ok, we need a big commercial hit, something that will get loads of radio play. Now, what rhymes with Venus?

010

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

I wrote for this week’s News Quiz. I’d update my CV but it’s gone to the pub to celebrate. You can listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

The News Quiz - Series 117 - 2. Elections (Local and Papal) - BBC Sounds

Pierre Novellie and Andrew Maxwell join Andy Zaltzman for the topical panel quiz show.

1140

Chris Ballard @chriscomedyuk.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

- Parallels with Dr Who/Bond casting - Parallels with Liz Truss meeting Queen - Parallels with Jesus rising again after three days - Next pope to be AI Right, let’s get on with Monday.

020