Dave Spikey and Nat Coombs back Passionate Red Nose Day project

A NEW collection of comedy writing created through social networking site Twitter is set to tickle the nation’s funny bone thanks to backing from comics Dave Spikey and Nat Coombs.

The TwitterTitters project is driving social change through social media by aiming to boost funds for Red Nose Day.

It now boasts exclusive new writing from Phoenix Nights co-creator Dave and a foreword from Nat whose comedy Chelsey: OMG! is an online phenomenon. Dave has submitted a previously unseen story The Best Medicine for the charity collection which is an excerpt from his upcoming book I gave him my kidney, then he stole my heart. The book will feature the best selection of new comedy writing collected by organisers through promoting the project on Twitter and is set to be published next week on www.lulu.com in time for Red Nose Day.

TwitterTitters - which you can follow online at www.twitter.com/tweehee called upon comic writers from across the UK to submit their work by using the social networking site to raise money for Comic Relief. It’s the product of a collaboration between journalists Linda Jones and Louise Bolotin and an expert panel of judges including cult author Martin Millar are currently sifting through the entries to identify the material that will make up the final published volume. Dave Spikey said he hoped the TwitterTitter Red Nose effort would find some untapped comic talent. “Not only is Comic Relief simply a great cause, but this particular project offers a brilliant opportunity for new writers,” he said. “It's fantastic that up-and-coming comedy writers can contribute to collections like TwitterTitters. Hopefully some stars of the future will be discovered through it! “I’m also very much looking forward to sharing some previously unpublished material of mine with the readers.” Nat Coombs said: “TwitterTitters is a terrific project, and I feel privileged to be in a position where I can help raise a laugh for Comic Relief whilst promoting young writing talent at the same time. “Every year Comic Relief seems to raise more and more for good causes, and hopefully TwitterTitters can help push the total up. I was particularly keen to help as we have seen Chelsey: OMG! Gain over two million hits online and was keen to help writing through another social networking medium.” Organiser Linda Jones said she was bowled over by the backing from the two writers. “I am a massive, massive fan of Phoenix Nights so to get the backing of Dave Spikey is a bit surreal,” she said. “We are hugely grateful for the backing of both Dave and Nat and are really looking forward to raising as much money as we can for Comic Relief. Chelsey: OMG! is a great social networking success story and we hope TwitterTitters can cause a similar stir. “While this is a fun project we feel privileged to do our bit to help fund the wonderful work done by Comic Relief in the UK and abroad.” Louise Bolotin added that the judging panel had been very impressed with the quantity and quality of submissions. “We've had more than 50 entries in a whole variety of different formats,” she said. “We've had everything from monologues, to poems, short stories, and blog posts. I love a laugh, and it's heart-warming to see so much comic talent out there, and people doing so much for Comic Relief. “More than that though, I've spoken to our judging panel, and the feedback from them is that the standard of entries is exceptionally high. Judging is taking place at the moment. Our aim is that the book will be ready to be edited, and that the book will be ready to go on sale at least a week before Red Nose Day. “It’s been great to see Twittersphere join forces to tweet, and retweet messages promoting the book. I'm touched and excited by the opportunities that this has opened up. “It's also incredible to have two comic talents of the calibre of Dave Spikey and Nat Coombs involved. Bring it on!” * You can follow the TwitterTitters progress at www.twitter.com/tweehee or at www.twittertitters.com Nat Coombs is a comedian, writer, presenter and the founding partner of a London media agency. Over the past few years, he has emerged as one of the brightest talents in UK comedy. His latest venture, 'Chelsey: OMG!', a comedy charting the trials and tribulations of an American girl visiting London, recently launched on Bebo. Chelsey: OMG! has amassed over 2,000,000 views since its debut in October 2008. Coombs wrote and co-produced the show, as well as devising its innovative format, whereby members of the public can interact with the show's characters. Chelsey: OMG! has already drawn interest from a range of industry commentators, including Michael Moran in The Times and Victor Keegan in The Guardian. As a comedy writer and performer Coombs has worked with some of the UK's leading production companies including Endemol, ITV Productions, BBC, Shine, SMG, North One, Channel X, Monkey, Pearson, Diverse and Lion. He is also an accomplished actor, most notably appearing alongside Dame Judi Dench in the BAFTA-nominated BBC drama 'Can You Hear Me Thinking?' Coombs' successful career in stand-up comedy has seen him perform at leading venues across the UK as well as making regular radio and TV appearances. A semi-finalist in the 'BBC New Comedy Awards' and a runner-up for ITV's 'Stand-up Britain' award, Coombs' work has been variously described as "incredibly stylish, with up-to-the-minute stuff" (John Pidgeon) and "like The Strokes beating the s*** out of Westlife in a car park" (Time Out). He has also taken part in the 'Just For Laughs' comedy festival in Montreal, where, according to journalist Tamsen Tillson from Variety magazine, he "set tongues wagging". Dave Spikey is a co-writer and co-star of Phoenix Nights, writer and co-star of Dead Man Weds and Magnolia; presenter of Bullseye and ex team captain on four hit series of 8 out of 10 Cats. His book I gave him my kidney and he stole my heart is due to be published in October 2009 by Michael O Mara Books. * Please help spread the word about our new collection of comedy writing and the fantastic backing of Dave Spikey and Nat Coombs. Please tweet, blog or report about it! Thank you and here's hoping we can raise plenty of dosh.