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´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers (previously ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom) is a cross-platform department which seeks out and develops new writing talent, with a strong emphasis on diversity and regionality, while also championing more experienced writers.

We work with a wide range of production departments across the ´óÏó´«Ã½, with , and with Independent production companies across the UK.

We are part of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Drama Commissioning, within ´óÏó´«Ã½ Public Service.

Where We Are

´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers works with scriptwriters across the UK from our bases in London, Salford, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast.

Meet the Team and find out which staff are based in your area

Visit our blog for the latest news and updates, including behind-the-scenes insights from writers and producers of ´óÏó´«Ã½ TV and radio programmes and top tips on script-writing. Follow the journeys of writers who have come through ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers schemes and opportunities.

How we work with writers

´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers is the public face of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to the UK writing community, online and in the real world. Our focus is developing scriptwriters working in the English language. We run targeted Writers' Groups, support talent initiatives, offer career and script advice, and champion the writers we work with. We look for unique voices, identifying and developing talent through our schemes.

In partnership with ´óÏó´«Ã½ production departments, , and independent production companies we run:

• Scripted - a one-year development programme for writers identified through our Open Call submissions and other talent searches.
• Voices - a six-month development programme for writers indentified through our Open Call and divided into six nations/regions of the UK.
• Pilot - developing writers towards their first original script commission with a placement at an independent production company.
• Writers' Access Group - to give talented disabled writers the chance to expand their writing skills and to be offered opportunities in TV and Radio at the ´óÏó´«Ã½.
• Write Across - an eight week writer development programme focussing on a particular location, run with local partner organisations.
• Short Form Content - supporting writers to develop scripts for digital platforms, such as The Break for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Three and Fright Shorts for ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer, our award-winning lockdown shorts InterConnected, or for broadcast at live events, like our Festival Monologues.
• We support other ´óÏó´«Ã½ department's talent initiatives, for example Find Me Funny with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales, the Dumping Ground Writers' Shadow Scheme with C´óÏó´«Ã½ and the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award with Radio Drama North.

Read more about our Successes 

´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers within the ´óÏó´«Ã½

Addressing specific Production needs

´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers staff attend development meetings and work as an internal agent, suggesting writers for specific projects. We also run other workshops on request (for example on storylining with the Natural History Unit).

The development of writers for the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Continuing Dramas (EastEnders, Casualty, River City) is managed by through the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Studios Writers' Academy. We support ´óÏó´«Ã½ Studios with their Writers' Academy and Writers' Workshop with application windows advertised on our Opportunities page and entries made via our online E-submissions system. 

A Lab for New Forms of Storytelling

The award-winning The Last Hours of Laura K was a pioneering 24-hour long immersive drama, which placed the audience at the heart of the story. It was developed at a ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers residential and subsequently produced by us.

We also work with other ´óÏó´«Ã½ Production departments including to explore fictional storytelling using new forms of technology and social media.

Find out more and try two AI storytelling projects on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Taster website  

´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers within the Industry

In addition to ´óÏó´«Ã½ in-house, we work in partnership with and independent production companies across the UK.

For Pilot, writers are placed with independent production companies to develop their first original script commission.

Other recent partnerships with companies across the industry include:

• Comedy Writers’ Programme
• Kudos North Writers’ Award
• Hartswood West Writers’ Scheme
• Zodiak Kids Writers' Award
• The Comedy Unit - NI writers placed on ´óÏó´«Ã½ NI comedy series Soft Border Patrol and Scottish writers placed on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland comedy series Scot Squad
• Gusman Productions – writers placed on Sketchtopia on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4

We welcome approaches from Independent companies who have a track record of making quality Drama for broadcast, and a history of supportive and creative relationships with writers. We would be happy to meet and discuss whether we could support your scripted development slate for the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

Contact us

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