BBC screenwriters have received £721,674 in royalties for viewings of their work on BBC iPlayer during 2016, according to figures just released by Writers Digital Payments (WDP).

The not-for-profit scheme, set up by WGGB and the Personal Managers’ Association (PMA), completed its latest distribution to writers last week.

The recent pay-out follows three previous BBC distributions and an ITV distribution.

Since the WDP scheme launched in April 2015, over £2.75 million has hit the bank accounts of writers, who don’t have to be members of WGGB to be eligible, or need to register.

WGGB General Secretary Ellie Peers said: “Writers Digital Payments takes no commission, so the money we negotiate with broadcasters goes directly to writers. This is just one of the many things that WGGB does for writers in the UK.”