Gemma Arrowsmith
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mmaarrow.bsky.social
Gemma Arrowsmith
@mmaarrow.bsky.social
3.5K followers 460 following 360 posts
Comedy writer & actor. Doctor Who, Tracey Ullman’s Show, Beyond a Steel Sky, Justin’s House, Bravest Warriors, Horrible Histories
linktr.ee/gemmaarrowsmith
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mmaarrow.bsky.social
We’ll be back in that blue box in no time. Happy #DoctorWhoDay
Image of Ian Chesterton. Text reads: Let me get this straight. A thing that looks like a police box, standing in a junkyard, it can move anywhere in time and space?
November 23, 2025 at 2:19 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
It’s been a fun week for seeing live sketch comedy.

Burnistoun’s Favourite Son was getting himself in the ground in The Death of Biscuity Boyle at BAaD in Glasgow.

And then the Fast Show gang were reunited at the bloody London Palladium!

Both shows an absolute treat. Massive audiences! 💫
The stage set for Biscuity Boyle. An image of the character on a screen and in the foreground lots of people’s heads. Text on screen reads THE HOOSE RULES Nae talking during the show Nae flash photography Definitely nae videos Bar closed during the show. Get them in before we begin Need the lavvy? Try go before the show starts to keep disruption minimal THIS IS A SOLD OUT SHOW, SO GETCOSY ALL SEASTS ARE TAKIN SO PLEASE DONT LEAVE SPACES REGARDS BURNISTOUN'S FAVORITE SON Biscuity Boyle Stage set for An Evening with the Fast Show. Screen onstage with the title and the beautiful Palladium auditorium.
November 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
It arrived! 🎉
Cover of ‘Beaton but Unbowed’ an autobiography, by Norman Beaton. Beaton depicted on the cover with a hand on his shoulder.
November 14, 2025 at 1:47 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
THIS IS A LOCAL SHOP FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
November 8, 2025 at 11:28 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Remember, remember… that I wrote an episode of Missy in which she makes sure the gunpowder plot *works* this time so she can install herself as Queen👑
(It was fun to write, this one.)
www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/m...
@bigfinish.bsky.social
CD boxset of Missy series 2. Image of MICHELLE GOMEZ. RUFUS HOUND GINA MCKEE & DAN STARKEY
November 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Poster for the film "Arrowsmith". The title at an angle across the middle, black text on a yellow background. Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes star.
November 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Just when I thought the Map Men book couldn’t be any more up my street, I turn the page & there’s a chapter on the ITV regional franchises. 🤩
@jayforeman.bsky.social @markcooperjones.bsky.social
The front cover of This Way Up: when maps go wrong (and why it matters.) The image is of 2 hemispheres, each centring the poles. A map of the ITV regional franchises including Central, Anglia, Yorkshire etc. The caption reads “ITV regions. If we’re being specific, I'TV regions between 1993 and 2006, when this map was at its worst.”
November 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Off to Foxhill Drive to try living with impossible. 👻
Sarah Greene in Ghostwatch
October 31, 2025 at 9:32 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
My parents had to convince me that Paul Daniels wasn't dead.

It's one of those deliciously unsettling childhood memories that television is made for. A bit of spine-tingling horror has made its way into your living room. That's what telly is all about.
Paul Daniels, in top hat and cape, winks at camera while an owl sits on his finger.
October 31, 2025 at 4:42 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
More than Ghostwatch, the finale of Paul Daniels: Live at Halloween 1987 scared the SHIT out of me as a kid.

The slam of the iron maiden, the horrifying silence, the voice of a floor manager asking everyone to leave. And then silent credits. Incredible television.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5R0...
Paul Daniels in an iron maiden The BBC1 globe replaced by a jack o' lantern
October 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Incidentally, I cut out the cover of a Smegazine and had it printed on this t-shirt. So, yes, you could say I was pretty cool.
Gemma, aged about 10, on the beach, wearing a red dwarf t-shirt.
October 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
I seem to remember I talked a lot about the transition from multi-camera sitcoms to single-camera sitcoms. So if that’s your bag (and why wouldn’t it be?) THIS is for you!
Out of Time with Gemma Arrowsmith. Graphic with image of Gemma in the middle.
October 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Red Dwarf was a pretty big part of my life when I was growing up. It taught me so much about comedy writing. So it was an honour to be invited back onto the Better than Life podcast to talk about Out of Time, the final ep of series 6 & the last Grant/Naylor written episode.

pca.st/episode/981c...
Gemma, aged about 10, wearing a RED DWARF T-shirt at the beach.
October 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
New Strictly hosts.
Crusher and Troi in their leotards on Star Trek TNG
October 23, 2025 at 10:08 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Macbeth doth murder frizz.
Tube of “FRIZZ NO MORE” cream
October 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Of course women don't like the Cybertruck.

Women only want one thing, and it's Bessie.
The Third Doctor and Liz Shaw in Bessie
October 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
The cast of Red Dwarf Rik and Ade Ghostwatch
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
It’s in the “How to Tell a Joke” section at the beginning of his Whopping Great Joke Book!
Front cover of Harry Hill’s Whopping Great Joke Book. Yellow background. Harry on the left with trademark glasses and big collar. HOW TO TELL A JOKE I. Work up a routine of about five minutes of your favourite jokes. Work out which ones go best and open your routine with your best joke and finish it with your second best joke. 2. Get a good outfit. Then when you've got a good outfit - move around a bit and show 'em the outfit. That way your audience will think you're a success even if you aren't, yet. 3. Shakespeare once said that brevity is the soul of wit - don't worry, I don't know what he was on about either. My advice is you won't get many laughs spouting Shakespeare - stick to jokes.
September 23, 2025 at 11:09 AM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Advice from Harry Hill 💛
12. Keep going. That's it, just keep going - it's all you can do. 13. Have fun. This is the most important one. Never let it seem like work - this life you've chosen for yourself of telling jokes. It ain't work. Sitting in an office watching other people having fun - that's work. You and me? We're the ones who escaped.
September 23, 2025 at 10:59 AM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Post a female character you love.
Maddie Magellan standing in front of Jonathan Creek.
September 18, 2025 at 1:55 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Ever since watching the Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller back in the 90s I’ve wanted to see P&T live. Tonight I got the chance at the Palladium and WOW the finale was just 🤯
The Palladium auditorium.
September 16, 2025 at 9:28 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Bit of a wish fulfilled. Went to see the new Alan Ayckbourn premiere in Scarborough last night. Ayckbourn himself sitting in the audience making notes. It’s his NINETY-FIRST PLAY. Incredible!

Congratulations to @haydenwood3390.bsky.social for a brilliant opening night!
The programme of Earth Angel written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn, held in front of the out of focus set. The Stephen Joseph Theatre building.
September 14, 2025 at 11:36 AM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
Sad news Red Dwarf fans, and if you read a bit further, comedy fans in general. UKTV no longer commissioning any scripted comedy.
comedy.co.uk Red Dwarf plans cancelled by UKTV Monday 8th September 2025, 8:48am • Doug Naylor has revealed that channel Dave has backtracked on plans to make more Red Dwarf • UKTV told him he should stop writing a new special as it is no longer commissioning scripted comedy • The script involved Lister going back in time to help his 23-year-old self escape from stasis
September 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
(The comedians are away in Edinburgh, quick, hoover up all the ADR work in London.)
Gemma Arrowsmith, in a white shirt, standing in front of a microphone and wearing headphones.
August 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
mmaarrow.bsky.social
The description of Rimmer's revision timetables in Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers might be the most affecting piece of writing I've ever come across.

You feel deep empathy for him but also so frustrated as he delays & delays revising.

I feel tired & stressed out whenever I read it.
Cover of Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers. By Grant Naylor. Red Dwarf at the top, then an unseen space vehicle has smashed through the sign reading Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers.
August 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM