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´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers Open Call – Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions have been updated on 30th October 2024 at 11.30.

1. To be eligible to enter the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers Open Call you must meet the following criteria:

a) You must be at least 18 years of age at the date of your submission.

b) You must be a permanent/full time resident of, but do not need to have been born in, the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland.

c) You must not be employed as part of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers or a person connected to this scheme.

Proof of age, identity, residency and eligibility may be requested.  The ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s decision as to the eligibility of individual entrants will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Entrants must submit no later than the closing date.

**If you have specific access requirements then please contact bbcwriters@bbc.co.uk ahead of the deadline to discuss your application.**

Please note: Once your script has been submitted you cannot upload a newer version. You will need to withdraw your submission completely and then resubmit it in its entirety if you wish to make any amendments ahead of the deadline.

We recommend that you make a copy of your answers to the application questions before withdrawing your submission as your original answers will not be saved within E-Submissions.

To help writers prepare their Open Call application before submitting, we’ve provided a downloadable document detailing the steps of the process. Click on the link below:

Open Call: E-Submissions Application Preview

Please note this list is only for reference. You’ll still need to complete your application via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ E-Submissions system (using the submission link provided on the Open Call webpage) which also includes sections on data usage and equality monitoring.

2. Please submit:

a) An original Film, TV, Radio, Stage or Children’s TV/Radio script that is a minimum of 30 pages long (excluding title/character pages). You must submit a complete script, not an extract of a longer project. Scripts will be read anonymously so please remove any personal details (name, address, contacts etc) from the front page of the script or within the document itself. 

b) A paragraph about your writing history (you do not need to have any credits or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing) and a paragraph on your reasons for applying for this opportunity.

c) Your script must be submitted as a single PDF document via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers E-Submissions System using the link provided for the opportunity. There are sections in the application form for you to provide answers to the additional questions.

d) Your application must be legibly typed and formatted. Entries must be written in English. If you submit any part of a script in another language you must also include your own translation of this into English.

e) You may submit either individually or as part of a writing team of up to a maximum of two people. If entering as a pair, both entrants must be writers and both must meet the entry requirements. We do not accept scripts which are written by three or more writers.

f) Only one entry may be submitted by each writer, either as a solo writer or as part of a writing partnership.

3. The ´óÏó´«Ã½, as data controller, is responsible for handling personal data provided to the ´óÏó´«Ã½, including in any contributions, in accordance with data protection law.  The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has a legitimate interest in using the personal data for journalistic, artistic and literary purposes and in the public interest and in using the personal data for the performance of the contract with the ´óÏó´«Ã½. For more information visit: .

4. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the ´óÏó´«Ã½ against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.

5. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers receives a high number of submissions, and similarities of subject matter often occur. We cannot undertake to compensate you if material similar to yours, received coincidentally from another source, is subsequently commissioned or produced.

6. The following are ineligible and will not be considered:

a) Scripts previously submitted to our Open Call (or Script Room) opportunity, including resubmissions of work which has since been re-written and further episodes of a series or serial which has previously been submitted.  This also covers submissions sent when we were previously branded '´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom'.

b) Multiple submissions from an entrant.

c) Multiple episodes or short scripts which together add up to 30 pages or more of script.

d) Extracts. Each script submitted must be complete.

e) DVDs, videos, CDs, audio tapes, or any video/audio material (whether it accompanies a script or otherwise). Any links to video/audio content will not be considered in the reading process.

f) New scripts written for existing or previously produced shows and/or characters (for example scripts of Doctor Who, EastEnders, Sherlock or using characters from these shows).  

g) Short stories, novels, unpublished prose manuscripts, poetry, short film scripts (under 30 pages) or work you wish to have adapted into a script.

h) Adaptations for broadcast of another writer’s idea (including adaptations of other writers’ novels).

i) Comedy sketch shows and pure narrative comedy series or sitcoms.  

j) Any script which has been developed, created or generated using AI tools.

7. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

a) Quality of writing;

b) Strength of story and structure;

c) Ability to write believable dialogue;

d) Skill in inhabiting characters and developing convincing relationships between them;

e) Ability to authentically bring the world to life; and

f) Ability to portray the writers' ‘voice’ in their storytelling.

8.  Entries will be judged and selected using the following process. All entries will be read anonymously until Stage Four:  

Stage One – 10 Page Sift

All eligible entries will be reviewed by a panel of professional experienced script readers, who will read at least the first ten pages of a script and assess and discuss the applications against the criteria outlined above.

Stage Two – 30 Page Sift

Scripts which hook our reader’s attention will progress to a 30 page read by a second script reader, who will then consider if the script should proceed to Stage Three to be read in full by a third reader.

Stage Three – Full Read (Longlist)

Scripts which reach the full read stage will be read by a third reader who will also provide the writer with a script report once the process has concluded.

Stage Four – ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers Team Read & Shortlist

Following the full read stage the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers team will review the remaining scripts and undertake a fourth full read to create a final shortlist. At least two producers will read each of the scripts at this stage.

Following this, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writers will then invite shortlisted writers for an interview with a view to being considered for suitable development opportunities including our Scripted and Voices groups. Interviews are likely to take place online over Zoom.

9.  We receive thousands of scripts within each Open Call window so it will take several months before you are informed of the outcome of your submission. The ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

10.  Entrants must agree to take part in any post-scheme publicity if required.

11. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ reserves the right to disqualify any entry which breaches any of these terms and conditions, is inconsistent with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Editorial Policy Guidelines or which may bring the ´óÏó´«Ã½ into disrepute, including any entries which profit from criminal activity.

12. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ reserves the right to cancel or alter the scheme at any stage, including members of the judging panel if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside its control. In this event, a notice will be posted on the following website: .

13.  The ´óÏó´«Ã½ reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any stage, including changing or substituting the selection process and the development opportunities. In this event, a notice will be posted on the following website: .  

14. By applying for the scheme, entrants warrant that they have legal capacity to enter the scheme and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

15. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.