The diversity development fund

The diversity development fund ring-fences £2.1 million of TV development spend every year to help support and accelerate projects that need exceptional extra funding, beyond the usual production budget.

The fund supports production companies to develop underrepresented on and off-screen talent, including writers, actors, presenters and contributors, through targeted initiatives.

We also use the fund for specific targeted BBC schemes such as BBC Elevate, some of our comedy bursaries, and the Writersroom Writers Access Group.

The fund is available for commissioned programmes on a rolling basis. Allocation is considered on the recommendation of a commissioner, after discussions with producers during the usual commissioning conversation. Investment decisions take into account the legacy benefit of additional investment for future series, to drive change in the sector, or build sustainable talent development in the Nations and English regions.

Recently the fund has supported placements on productions including RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Sort Your Life Out, Towards Zero, Gladiators, Only Child, Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks, Reunion, Mastermind, Bridge of Lies, Live at the Apollo and Ambulance.

Please note, separate diversity funds are run by BBC Radio and BBC Children's.