We work with the broadest possible range of storytellers to offer the very best of British authorship to our audience, both emerging and established writers, from diverse backgrounds and from right across the UK. It is vital that as well as working with the best of British talent - creators like Michaela Coel, Sally Wainwright, Jed Mercurio or Steve McQueen - we are also a creative home for new voices, and we are passionate about finding and developing the next generation of UK writers.
Our development slate is always rich with writers who are new to us, but who have something fresh, enlightening and exciting to say. Working with these authors – and their champions in the production community – to get these stories onto screen is at the heart of our mission.
We work hand-in-hand with 91Èȱ¬ Writers (formally Writersroom) to find, nurture and grow new voices who will shape the great British dramas of the future. 91Èȱ¬ Writers works with authors of varying levels of experience in a number of different ways, and all initiatives are strongly industry-focused with real and tangible outcomes.
91Èȱ¬ Writers teams are based across all four nations, and drama assistant commissioners based out of Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow and Salford so that drama commissioning and Writersroom can bring even more emerging voices into active development and production.
Our work with 91Èȱ¬ Writers
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Open Call
Our annual script submission window where any writer – regardless of previous experience – can send their work for review. Successful writers are then placed on further intensive Writersroom schemes. Our unique ‘open-door’ policy has been key to the discovery and development of writers who are now working across the industry. -
Pilot (formerly TV Drama Writers’ Programme)
Our annual flagship programme places around 10 writers into paid script development with independent production companies to write a pilot episode of a original series or serial for the 91Èȱ¬, supported by a wrap-around professional development programme and mentoring. -
Scripted (formally Drama Room)
A one-year writer-development scheme for those identified through our open submission script room and talent searches. Around 15 writers meet monthly to receive targeted training and development and gain the support of a script editor to develop their original work. This hugely successful scheme has seen many alumni working consistently in the industry – including Isis Davis and Theresa Ikoko. -
Write Across groups
Eight-week development schemes focussing on specific areas of the UK run in partnership with local organisations consisting of workshops, expert-led sessions and networking opportunities for new and emerging writers in the region. -
Voices groups
We host several emerging-writer 'Voices' groups across the UK, developing talent throughout the Nations and English regions with craft sessions and masterclasses. Recent successes include Tony Schumacher who was commissioned to write The Responder and Sharma Walfall who wrote Gone. -
Writers' Access Group
Designed to support our wider commitment to realistic and authentic portrayal of disabled people on screen and open up more opportunities within the production community for those with a lived experience of disability. -
The Break
A returning series of bold short-form drama monologues for 91Èȱ¬ Three, written by up-and-coming diverse talent from across the UK with a yearly open call for story ideas. Each series is available to watch on 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer.
Developing new and emerging TV writing talent
We're proud of our track-record giving exciting new authors their first original TV commissions. Many of these have been identified and developed via our 91Èȱ¬ Writersroom schemes. We've helped launch the television careers of writers including Alice Seabright who wrote and directed Chloe for 91Èȱ¬ One and Tony Schumacher who authored The Responder, which has so far won best drama at the Edinburgh TV Awards and best script writer at the RTS North West awards. Nicôle Lecky wrote and starred in Mood which was adapted from her one-woman play and won best original programme at the Broadcast Awards and Ryan J. Brown was commissioned to write his first TV series Wreck for 91Èȱ¬ Three.
Recent commissions from first time TV writers include:
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First Network TV credit for Bafta award-winnner Lawrence Taylor
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First original screenplay for the 91Èȱ¬, developed as part of 91Èȱ¬ Writersroom’s Pilot programme
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Nathanial Price - Mr Loverman
The Writersroom alumni's first TV writing credit will be an adaption of the acclaimed novel by Bernardine Evaristo -
Paris Lees - What It Feels Like For A Girl
The author, journalist and campaigner's first TV credit will be an eight-part adaption of her award-winning memoir -
Lauren Sequeira - Domino Day
91Èȱ¬ Writersroom alumni Lauren wrote and executive produced the six part 91Èȱ¬ Three series -
The author's first TV commission will be an eight part series for 91Èȱ¬ One.
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