What We Do

BBC Writers (previously BBC Writersroom) is a cross-platform department which seeks out and develops new writing talent, with a strong emphasis on diversity and regionality, while also championing more experienced writers.

We work with a wide range of production departments across the BBC, with BBC Studios, and with Independent production companies across the UK.

We are part of BBC Drama Commissioning, within BBC Public Service.

Where We Are

BBC Writers works with scriptwriters across the UK from our bases in London, Salford, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast.

Meet the Team and find out which staff are based in your area

Visit our blog for the latest news and updates, including behind-the-scenes insights from writers and producers of BBC TV and radio programmes and top tips on script-writing. Follow the journeys of writers who have come through BBC Writers schemes and opportunities.

Map of the UK with BBC Writersroom's office locations

How we work with writers

BBC Writers is the public face of the BBC to the UK writing community, online and in the real world. Our focus is developing scriptwriters working in the English language. We run targeted Writers' Groups, support talent initiatives, offer career and script advice, and champion the writers we work with. We look for unique voices, identifying and developing talent through our schemes.

In partnership with BBC production departments, BBC Studios, and independent production companies we run:

Scripted - a one-year development programme for writers identified through our Open Call submissions and other talent searches.
Voices - a six-month development programme for writers indentified through our Open Call and divided into six nations/regions of the UK.
Pilot - developing writers towards their first original script commission with a placement at an independent production company.
Writers' Access Group - to give talented disabled writers the chance to expand their writing skills and to be offered opportunities in TV and Radio at the BBC.
Write Across - an eight week writer development programme focussing on a particular location, run with local partner organisations.
Short Form Content - supporting writers to develop scripts for digital platforms, such as The Break for BBC Three and Fright Shorts for BBC iPlayer, our award-winning lockdown shorts InterConnected, or for broadcast at live events, like our Festival Monologues.
We support other BBC department's talent initiatives, for example Find Me Funny with BBC Wales, the Dumping Ground Writers' Shadow Scheme with CBBC and the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award with Radio Drama North.

BBC Writers within the BBC

Addressing specific Production needs

BBC Writers staff attend development meetings and work as an internal agent, suggesting writers for specific projects. We also run other workshops on request (for example on storylining with the Natural History Unit).

The development of writers for the BBC's Continuing Dramas (EastEnders, Casualty, River City) is managed by BBC Studios through the BBC Studios Writers' Academy. We support BBC Studios with their Writers' Academy and Writers' Workshop with application windows advertised on our Opportunities page and entries made via our online E-submissions system.

A Lab for New Forms of Storytelling

The award-winning The Last Hours of Laura K was a pioneering 24-hour long immersive drama, which placed the audience at the heart of the story. It was developed at a BBC Writers residential and subsequently produced by us.

We also work with other BBC Production departments including Research and Development to explore fictional storytelling using new forms of technology and social media.

Find out more and try two AI storytelling projects on the BBC Taster website

BBC Studios TalentWorks: Writers’ Studio: Soap, Writers’ Studio: Cosy Crime and The Writer Spotlight

As part of its industry leading training portfolio, BBC Studios TalentWorks provides training and development opportunities for emerging and established talent, bringing together, nurturing and championing the next generation of British storytellers.

Among the offering is a newly created The Writer Spotlight scheme, which works with drama writers and comedy performers, who have previously worked on commissioned series, to develop and harness their own ideas and IP through workshops, events and access to industry experts.

For new and developing writing talent, it offers the Writers Studio: Soap, and Writers Studio: Cosy Crime courses. These courses give new talent the opportunity to work in BBC Studios Drama Productions on major shows including EastEnders, Casualty, River City, Pobol y Cwm, Father Brown and Sister Boniface Mysteries and learn how to craft successful episodes.

Visit the BBC Studios TalentWorks website to find out more about Writers’ Studio: Soap, Writers’ Studio: Cosy Crime and The Writer Spotlight.

BBC Writers within the Industry

In addition to BBC in-house, we work in partnership with BBC Studios and independent production companies across the UK.

For Pilot, writers are placed with independent production companies to develop their first original script commission.

Other recent partnerships with companies across the industry include:

Comedy Writers’ Programme
Kudos North Writers’ Award
Hartswood West Writers’ Scheme
Zodiak Kids Writers' Award
The Comedy Unit - NI writers placed on BBC NI comedy series Soft Border Patrol and Scottish writers placed on BBC Scotland comedy series Scot Squad
Gusman Productions – writers placed on Sketchtopia on BBC Radio 4

We welcome approaches from Independent companies who have a track record of making quality Drama for broadcast, and a history of supportive and creative relationships with writers. We would be happy to meet and discuss whether we could support your scripted development slate for the BBC.

BBC Comedy

From 2021, Comedy writer, writer/performer, director and producer development is looked after by BBC Comedy Commissioning, which brings together all comedy outreach that is happening across the BBC under one strategy.

The separate Caroline Aherne Bursary, Felix Dexter Bursary and Galton & Simpson Bursary for writers have been brought together with two new bursaries for directors and producers into the BBC Comedy Collective, a supercharged bursary scheme offering 10 places each year to up-and-coming writers, producers and directors who’d like to develop their careers in scripted comedy.

Find out more about the BBC Comedy Collective leaders and alumni

We will no longer open a window specifically for Comedy script submissions or run further Comedy Room writer development groups via BBC Writers.

Interested in breaking into Comedy?

Visit the BBC Comedy Commissioning website to find out about more opportunities