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The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is committed to improving the representation of deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent people on and off-screen. For too long writers from the disabled community have been overlooked by the television industry. Many writers face significant barriers to progress their career as a result of their lived experience of being deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. There is still more to do across the whole industry to improve access, opportunities and include authentic and meaningful representation of disability.   

Backed by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Content and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Drama Commissioning, The Writers’ Access Group will build on the work already happening to support the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s ambition to raise the profile of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent talent on and off screen. The programme aims to support the next wave of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent writers to hone their craft, deepen their industry knowledge and provide a pathway for talented writers to grow and progress.  

To make the Writers' Access Group as accessible as possible, we have been working closely with our colleagues at throughout the planning stages. They will continue to be our consultants during the programme offering  expert advice and guidance. 

What does the programme involve? 

The Writers’ Access Group is returning to support a third group of exciting new writers following in the footsteps of the 2018/19 and 2020/21 groups. It is an 18-month programme of professional development support for deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent writers. All writers selected for the programme will take part in a series of workshops, masterclasses and panel discussions to develop their craft skills and deepen their industry knowledge and contacts. Sessions will be led by professionals from the television industry and will cover things such as story structure, character development and the commissioning process.  

The programme will have an emphasis on developing craft skills and industry knowledge but will also create real opportunities for the participating writers to gain professional experience across the ´óÏó´«Ã½, as well as connecting and developing working relationships with peers amongst the group.  

Ten writers will be invited to take part in the programme which will run for 18 months starting in October 2023 and running until April 2025. The programme will be primarily delivered over Zoom with some in-person sessions and workshops at key moments in the schedule. There will be at least two half-day workshop sessions per month for the first eight months of the programme, followed by a dedicated writing period where participants will complete a new television spec script with the support of a professional script-editor and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom team. 

It is important to note that this script will not be for production – it is to help create a piece of work that will best showcase writing skills to the wider broadcasting industry, putting writers in a strong position to take the next step in TV writing.   

The programme is free to attend for successful applicants and we will cover all travel and access costs for selected participants.  

The programme also involves an industry outreach element where participating writers will be introduced to producers and production companies, as well as agents and ´óÏó´«Ã½ commissioners. Mentoring will also be offered to the participants to help them as they progress through their careers. 

Who can submit?   

Anyone who identifies as deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent AND:   

• Is aged 18 or over  

• Is a resident of the UK or Republic of Ireland      

Who are we looking for? 

We want to work with the next wave of exciting and passionate deaf, disabled and neurodivergent storytellers. We’re looking for emerging writers who have a real desire to write for television. We’re looking for writers with an original voice, a fresh perspective, and a keen interest in the medium of television and learning more about writing for it.  

You do not need to have a credit or agent representation in order to apply.  

What do I need to submit?

A script

As part of the application process, we request ONE complete script in PDF format (minimum of 30 pages in length). This should be a Drama or Comedy Drama script written for TV, Film, Radio, Stage or Online. 

• Your script should be saved as a single PDF document of no more than 10MB in size, with your name removed from the document. 

• If you are writing your script using Final Draft and do not know how to remove your name and contact details from your script, please refer to Final Draft's own trouble shooter. 

• If you are using Microsoft word processing and do not know how to save your file as a PDF, please refer to   

Please remember to remove your name and contact details from every page of your script. All scripts will be read without a name attached, until after the full-read stage. 

For this opportunity you CAN submit a script that you have submitted to previous ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom opportunities, including Open Call.

Read the  Medium and Format guidelines for more information. 

Answers to questions   

As well as your writing sample we will also ask writers to supply brief answers to the following questions. One or two paragraphs per question (250 words maximum) is enough information:  

• Your writing history (You do not need to have any credits, awards or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing and a little bit of the journey you have been on up to this point). 

• What do you hope to gain and/or what skills and contacts do you hope to develop by taking part in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom Writers’ Access Group? (We want to understand where you are in your development as a writer and your motivation for applying).  

We would recommend preparing your answers to these outside the submissions system and pasting them in to save time when entering your submission. The system will time out after an hour if you don't click to submit your entry. It will not save uncompleted submissions. 

Terms and Conditions of Entry

Before submitting your application please read the Writers’ Access Group  Terms and Conditions of Entry

How do I submit my entry?   

Applications should be submitted via our online E-Submissions system using the link below:  

Once you have clicked on the submission link for the opportunity, you will firstly be asked to confirm your eligibility before entering. (*Please note* If you do not meet the listed criteria, you cannot enter the opportunity. If you still proceed with your application, your submission will be flagged as ineligible and you are unlikely to hear that this is the case until after the deadline has passed.)  

You will then need to log in to your E-submissions account (or create an account if this is the first time you have entered) and fill out the details along with uploading your script and supporting information.   

Accessibility Support

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ will facilitate access and support participants through the process of application and interview stages. If you require any support in making your application, please do not hesitate to contact us on writersroom@bbc.co.uk and a member of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom team will contact you. 

We have created two short videos which demonstrate how to create an E-Submissions account and how to submit your entry. Subtitles are available for both videos:

When is the submission window open?   

The submission window opens at 10am on Tuesday 24th January 2023.

The deadline for entries is 12pm (noon) on Tuesday 18th April 2023.     

When will I find out the outcome of my submission?   

We aim to let everyone know the outcome of their submission by October 2023.     

Who can I contact for further information or assistance?   

You can email writersroom@bbc.co.uk with any questions in text, video or audio format. You can also include your telephone number if you would prefer us to phone or text you to discuss your query, please let us know the most accessible way to contact you.  

Watch the Writers' Access Group ambassadors introduce the scheme

Actors Rose Ayling-Ellis and Ruth Madeley and screenwriter Jack Thorne. The panel is chaired by writer and comedian (and Writers' Access Group graduate) Laurence Clark.

Watch a Q&A with two alumni from the Writers' Access Group

Find out more about the Writers' Access Group and what it involves and get great advice to support your application by watching this Q&A with two alumni of the scheme.