The TV Drama Writers' Programme

BBC Writersroom works to develop writers at different stages of their careers.

We don’t run training schemes or courses – we leave that to colleges, theatres, universities and film schools. What we do is to support writers in a bespoke way to bring their voices and stories into the BBC.

Some are new writers, taking their first steps in the business; some are well-established elsewhere, but have not yet managed to get that elusive first BBC script commission. Some have been held back through disadvantage – for example accessibility issues. Some have success in one area of scripted output, but are looking to move to another area.

We run two open script submission windows a year called Script Rooms. These are for any writer, at any stage, who wants to send in a script. This is a big part of our work, with a large commitment of time and resources, and results in our Drama Room and Comedy Room writers’ development groups. No previous experience is required; the writer just has to be over 16 and resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland. We read these scripts without names or identifying information in order to avoid unconscious bias, and to provide a level playing field. Many new writers come into the BBC in this way.

We normally receive between 3000-3500 scripts in each Script Room window so competition is fierce for a place in one of our development groups; however everyone who gets to the full read stage (normally at least 100 writers) receives a full script report. We also frequently see writers who, initially don’t make it past the first 10 page read in one particular year, subsequently get further and further through the process as they develop their writing and their voice over following years.

We also run other opportunities which are more targeted, with more restricted entry criteria. One of these schemes, the TV Drama Writers’ Programme, is for more experienced writers who have not yet managed to get a BBC TV Drama script commission. The writers demonstrate this experience through having achieved a professional writing credit, which can be in any medium, and any area, other than original series TV or by having already been signed by an agent. This helps these writers onto the next step of their career, and helps the BBC work with the most exciting rising talent. We commission around 10 writers to write a script, for which they are paid the WGGB rate. These writers will have spent time, often years, finding their voice, working out who they are as writers and developing their craft. However, they are new to BBC Drama and the companies with whom they are placed.

Many writers with agents are not earning a living from writing and still need support through schemes of this nature to gain script commissions.

We are also very conscious that the BBC lacks particular voices, and we also focus resources to encourage and support writers of all levels of experience, whose voices may historically have been under-represented in the UK television landscape.

That said, in everything we do, our guiding principle is always to seek out writers with the strongest potential to be developed and produced for BBC broadcast. We receive many thousands of scripts every year and can only focus on the writers who we feel have the most potential.

Carving a career as a writer takes time, and each writer’s development needs will be different. We offer a range of opportunities to suit writers at different stage of their careers. It is a challenging and competitive industry, but we believe that talent will shine through in the end, when matched with perseverance and resilience.

Applications for the TV Drama Writers' Programme 2021 are open until noon on Monday 20th July

Find out more about the TV Drama Writers' Programme and the writers and companies who have taken part

To find out more about what we do and how we can (and can’t) develop your writing read this previous blog post

Explore free-to-enter writing opportunities from the BBC and across the industry