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´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom Writers’ Access Group – Terms and Conditions 

1. To be eligible to enter the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom Writers’ Access Group you must meet the following criteria: 

a) You must identify as deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. 

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

c) 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.

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

e) Writers currently serving a term of imprisonment in the UK and/or with unspent convictions must disclose details of such convictions in accordance with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom Privacy Policy (see below) 

Proof of age, identity and residency 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 of 12 noon on Tuesday 18th April 2023. 

**If you have specific access requirements then please contact  writersroom@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 and resubmitting your submission as your original answers will not be saved within E-Submissions. 

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

Writers’ Access Group: 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 which also includes sections on data usage and equality monitoring. 

2. Entrants must submit no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 18th April 2023: 

a) An original Film, TV, Radio, Stage, Online 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. Please note: you do not need to have any credits or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing (maximum 250 words). 

c) A paragraph on what you hope to gain or develop by taking part in the Writers’ Access Group (maximum 250 words). 

d) The script must be submitted as a single PDF document via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom E-Submissions System using the link provided for the opportunity. 

e) 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. 

f) You may submit either individually or as part of a writing team of up to a maximum of 2 people. If entering as a pair, both entrants must meet the entry requirements. We do not accept scripts which are written by 3 or more writers. 

g) 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: www.bbc.co.uk/writers/opportunities/privacy-notice. 

4. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. You CAN submit a script that you have submitted to previous ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom opportunities, including Open Call. 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 Writersroom 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) Multiple submissions from an entrant. 

b) Extracts. Each script submitted must be complete. 

c) 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. 

d) 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).   

e) Short stories, novels, unpublished prose manuscripts, poetry or work you wish to have adapted into a script. 

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

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

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 writer's ‘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 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. Our reader pool includes people who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodiverse. 

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 Writersroom Team Read (Shortlist) 

Following the Full Read stage the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom 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 final shortlisted scripts and, following this, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Writersroom will then invite shortlisted writers for an interview. 

9.  We aim to inform you of the outcome of your submission by the beginning of October 2023. The ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 

10. 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. 

11. 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:   

12.  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: .   

13. 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. 

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