Clitheroe

Jalaal's sketch show Clitheroe was co-written with Daniel Roberts.  It aired on Channel 4 as part of the Comedy Lab season.  Unlike many sketch shows, different actors were used for each scene.  The aim was to maintain audience belief in the reality of the 'Clitheroe world'.  The sketches also dispensed with any traditional arc of 'beginning, middle/build and payoff'.

'The product of two very odd imaginations... In many programmes the sort of surreal set-ups we got might have been only the start of a long, wearisome trudge towards a punch line. Here, they were often the entire sketch.' The Telegraph on Clitheroe 

The 'slice of life' style strengthened the viewer's belief in the situation. The comedy of Clitheroe was often born out of awkwardness, sometimes pathos and even agony. Attention to detail was paramount in getting to the heart of the characters.  Through investment in the whole person, sorrow and humour can co-exist.

 Why not try some writing yourself?  It's easier than it looks.   You can see examples of Jalaal's writing below, but beneath that there is nothing.  

"In this example I made the words come out of a pen and go on the paper.  It is part of the front of an envelope.  It's going to be posted (with some other letters) when I remember to do it."

"Another envelope.  This time I've written on the back.  The words are self-instruction, partly related to the first piece of writing and partly not at all."

"This is not related to the other writing but to a tongue-twister and a wish.  The words have been put on a plain piece of paper.  I wrote it too quickly and missed the 'r' out of 'Laboratories'.  Then I tried to add it in afterwards but it doesn't look right really. I suppose I could have written it again but life's too short to keep writing stuff."