Corporation launches third Writers Academy
EastEnders’ lead scriptwriter Tony Jordan and Bodies creator Jed Mercurio will share their skills with up and coming talent as part of the BBC’s third Writers Academy.
The initiative offers writers the chance to gain the skills needed to pen television drama and aims to find a new generation to work across series on BBC, and eventually across the corporation’s entire drama output.
Eight applicants will win a place at this year’s academy and will each be tasked with penning an episode of Doctors in an initial 13-week course. Those whose episodes are green-lit will then spend 15 months working on productions like EastEnders, Casualty and Holby.
Successful applicants will have lectures from Jordan and Mercurio, alongside Robin Hood writer Dominic Minghella and Shameless director Dearbhla Walsh.
Controller of BBC drama production John Yorke said the scheme was a “major gateway” into the industry.
He said: “As a public service broadcaster, it is a unique service that only the BBC can provide and it is fantastic that they continue to support it.”
Applicants, who must have had their work previously performed on television and radio, have until May 14 to apply.
Also from The Stage
- BBC radio writers to gain inflation-busting pay boost
- BBC seeks scriptwriters for year-long pilot course
- C4 launches writers' mentoring scheme
- Big names join forces to find fresh stage writing
- BBC sets up radio drama scheme for northern writers
- Features: Real drama - BBC and training new writers, directors and producers
To contact the Stage news team email newsdesk@thestage.co.uk or call 020 7403 1818, selecting option 2 (editorial) followed by option 1 (newsdesk).
If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
Follow The Stage on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest entertainment industry news to your desktop or mobile.
Latest news
- Tom Ellis to appear as part of BBC1’s The Preston Passion
- Tom Ellis and Christine Bottomley are among the actors being lined up to appear in three new dramas being made as…
- Doctor Who star Matt Smith made patron of Royal Court Young Writers Festival
- Matt Smith has been appointed as patron of the Royal Court’s Young Writers Festival.
- Christopher Eccleston joins NT Antigone
- Christopher Eccleston has been cast in the National Theatre’s forthcoming production of Antigone.
- Dirty Dancing musical extends UK tour
- Dirty Dancing is to extend its UK tour into the summer of 2013, with producers announcing five more dates.
- King’s Cross Award for New Writing winner announced
- Rob Johnston has won the King’s Cross Award for New Writing 2011.
- ITV to expand characters’ storylines online
- ITV is to expand on the storylines of characters in Emmerdale, by creating content that can only be accessed online.
Content is copyright © 2012 The Stage Media Company Limited unless otherwise stated.
All RSS feeds are published for personal, non-commercial use. (What’s RSS?)