The Stage

C4 launches writers’ mentoring scheme

Published Tuesday 17 February 2004 at 11:25 by Joanna Taylor

Channel 4 controller of drama John Yorke has announced the creation of a mentoring scheme for young writers to combat the channel’s failure to attract new talent of a sufficient standard.

Speaking exclusively to The Stage, Yorke revealed that he was concerned there are not enough newcomers of the talent of Paul Abbott or Tony Marchant to maintain a flow of workable, successful ideas.

He said: “There is a serious shortage of good up and coming writers. I think there is a problem and I am not quite sure why it is. The bottom line is that it is very hard to write a drama and very hard to get a break and get your individual voice heard.”

The executive who left the BBC to join C4’s drama department in 2003 is encouraging a mentor system whereby the creators of long-running series, including Abbott, allow new writers to pen episodes.

“The idea behind all the series we are doing, from Shameless, No Angels, Teachers and Ny-Lon, is that they are an authored vision but the author does not write all of it,” he said.

“On Shameless, Paul Abbott works as a mentor with other writers on the programme and goes through their scripts at every stage and offers advice. I think that is how it is going to work for us.”

He added that the fact there are a limited number of drama slots on the small screen only serves to compound the problem, leaving soaps as the most viable training ground.

Controversially, Yorke admitted that Channel 4 shared the blame for years of television under-investment in the genre but insisted this was no longer the case, saying his budget was now in the region of £30 million. However, this level was achieved first at least five years ago when the budget was substantially increased from £23 million. This followed the abolition in 1999 of the unpopular Channel 4 funding formula, which diverted profits to the commercial sector.

Commenting on Yorke’s observations, television writing agent Julian Friedmann, who also edits Scriptwriter magazine, said broadcasters such as C4 and the BBC, which have digital channels, are capable of offering more opportunities to writers.

Assistant general secretary of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Anne Hogben added: “No doubt it is frustrating for John Yorke that commissioning is not all cherries but there is another side. Almost every TV writer I have ever met, including Paul Abbott, complains about the development hell they have to go through from production folk who have to somehow justify their existence by adding their tuppence-worth to scripts.

“I have known several young and talented writers who have been turned off writing as a career by the impossible demands and abusive behaviour they have received.”