NEXT month's Galway Film Fleadh will feature a special Father Ted day at the Town Hall Theatre which will delve into all the different producing, writing and acting aspects of the hugely successful Channel 4 sitcom. Kicking off Ted Day on Monday July 15th will be a comedy scriptwriting masterclass hosted by the show's BAFTA award winning writers, Arthur Matthews and Graham Linehan who will be telling you everything you need to know about writing a sitcom (from the initial idea to the role of the producer) but were afraid to ask.

Twenty aspiring writers will be selected to attend the talk. Today is the deadline for those interested to forward their CVs and reasons why they want to attend to the Galway Film Centre, Monivea Road, Galway. A further 30 places will be reserved for broadcasters, producers and media representatives.

Later in the afternoon, a few episodes of Father Ted will be screened, followed by a public discussion on "Direction for Comedy" by the show's director, Decian Lowney and that will be followed by a talk on "Comedy as a Commercial Option" which will be hosted by Jackie Hamilton (BBC Northern Ireland), Niall MacEachmharcaigh (Independent Producer), David Blake Knox (RTE) and Graham Linehan (writer).

At 6 p.m. the same day, details will be announced of the first "Sitcom Script Writing Course" which will be open to six aspiring comedy writers. The course (developed by Billy McGrath with Sean Hardie as tutor) will be divided into four separate sessions taking place between November 1996 and May 1997. Anybody interested in applying should get their CV and sitcom treatments (sample dialogue scenes, breakdown of key characters) in before September 1st.

Successful applicants will have "live" readings/dress rehearsals of their finished work performed at the 97 Galway Film Fleadh.