Channel 4 Seeks New Writers

Channel 4 is seeking writers from the North of England.

The broadcaster is offering three aspiring writers the chance to learn how to write for television.

The scheme is open to writers who are new to television and the three winners will be placed with independent production companies Lime Pictures and Bonafide Films where they will undergo mentoring and develop their writing skills.

Channel 4 has teamed up with writing development agency New Writing North and Northumbria University to offer the opportunities as part of the Northern Writers’ Awards, which are open for entries until 2 February 2017.

Judges of the Channel 4/Northumbria University Writing for Television Awards are looking for northern writers and entries are particularly encouraged from writers who are currently under-represented in the industry, including Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBT+ and disabled writers.

The three winning writers will each receive bursaries of £3,000 to support their time at Lime Pictures or Bonafide Films and a bespoke nine-month package of training and development from staff at the independent production companies.

Two writers will work on Lime Pictures' award-winning serial Hollyoaks. There they will shadow the process of script development, from first draft to broadcast script. At the end of the development period they may have the opportunity to undertake a paid commission for an episode of the serial drama.

The third writer will spend nine months being mentored by Bonafide Films, which is currently in production on The Last Post, a drama serial written by BAFTA winner Peter Moffat, for BBC One. The writer will develop a new idea for a television drama and at the end of the process their first episode may be commissioned.

Lee Mason, Commissioning Executive, Drama, Channel 4 Television said: "Channel 4 has a great track record in seeking out and nurturing new talent and launching the careers of some of our industry’s most talented and creative people which is why we continue to support the Northern Writers Awards. I'm delighted that Northumbria University, New Writing North, Lime Pictures and Bonafide Films are so committed to providing this amazing development opportunity."