BBC Writers' Academy and Comedy College
The BBC is inviting applications for two if its main new writing initiatives, the Writers' Academy and Comedy College.
This will be the Academy's fifth year.
The Writers Academy is a major initiative aimed at discovering and training the next generation of writers for BBC One’s flagship drama series: EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City, and Doctors.
Eight writers are selected out of hundreds of applicants, to undergo an intensive 15-month programme designed to equip them with all the skills necessary to write successfully for BBC Drama. The course entails classroom training, lectures from the country's best writers, instruction in all aspects of television production, and direct writing experience on the four Continuing Drama shows...
You are eligible to apply if you have had your work broadcast on television or radio, or performed professionally at the theatre. You will need to send in an original sample of your writing.
Full details, including the entry requirements and how to apply, are on the BBC Writersroom website. The closing date for applications is 5 May 2009. There are a number of posts about the Academy on the Writersroom blog.
The BBC College of Comedy is inviting applications for its second year:
The scheme will run for 12 months, and six successful applicants (writing pairs will be treated as a single applicant) will be attached to an existing production, and will also be mentored in the creation of original work.
The scheme is open to writers of half-hour narrative comedy, and to sketch writers from the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.
Applicants will have had their work broadcast; had work commissioned for development by a broadcaster or production company; or had their work performed professionally, either as a writer or a writer/performer. Applications which do not meet these criteria will not be considered.
The deadline for submissions is noon on 24 April 2009. Full details can be found from BBC Writersroom.
You can read about the College of Comedy's first year in Micheál Jacob's posts for the Writersroom blog.
back to top