Jack Rooke, the creator of Channel 4's acclaimed comedy Big Boys, has urged the creative industries to open up greater pathways for aspiring young talent.
The 32-year-old Bafta-winning writer and comedian expressed his worries about the current state of arts provision, calling for the sector to become more welcoming rather than daunting for newcomers.
Mr Rooke voiced particular alarm at the erosion of opportunities that once existed for emerging creatives.
"Every bit of funding or support that helped me make work and build a career seems to have disappeared," he said.
Jake Rooke has urged the creative industries to open up greater pathways for aspiring young talent
|CHANNEL 4
The comedian stressed the importance of safeguarding creative prospects for the next generation, warning that the support systems which enabled his own career breakthrough have largely vanished from the landscape.
Speaking on the Roundhouse podcast Making Space, Mr Rooke argued that the industry must stop erecting obstacles for aspiring artists.
"We need young people to become our next generation of artists," he said. "We can't continuously create blocks and harder routes in. We need to create more routes in."
The writer championed the value of nurturing even modest creative endeavours, suggesting they can blossom into something more substantial.
"Encouraging very small acts of creativity leads to bigger ones," he explained.
"We live in a world of rewarded excellence, but creativity doesn't have to be perfect. Some of the best art I've ever seen is on a dirty car window."
Mr Rooke serves as a commissioner for the Young Creatives Commission, an independent initiative run by the Camden-based youth charity and arts venue Roundhouse, which works to improve access to the arts for young people.
The writer revealed that his decision to take on the role stemmed from deep unease about the current cultural climate.
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Jack Rooke received a BAFTA for Big Boys
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"I felt concerned about the landscape of the arts right now," he said, explaining his motivation for joining the commission.
Big Boys, Mr Rooke's semi-autobiographical sitcom, depicts an unlikely bond forming between two contrasting young men thrown together during their university years.
The series features Dylan Llewellyn, known for his role in Derry Girls, alongside Jon Pointing from Sweet Pea.
Mr Rooke's writing on the programme has earned him significant recognition within the television industry.
Earlier this year, he claimed the Bafta Television Craft award for best comedy writer, marking his second consecutive victory in the category after his initial win in 2024.
The show has established itself as a hit for Channel 4.
Roundhouse, where Mr Rooke recorded the podcast, operates as both a youth charity and independent multi-arts venue in Camden.