Northern Voices

BBC writersroom, Northern Film & Media, Screen Yorkshire, and Northwest Vision + Media are searching for exceptional writers from the North who want to write drama for television.  If you have a strong individual voice, the ability to create great characters and tell compelling stories, and a real passion for television drama, you could take part in Northern Voices.

Northern Voices will provide training and development for up to four writers from each region to learn about writing for television drama from some of the most experienced producers and writers in the country. It will also provide the opportunity to develop an original TV drama calling card script with the support of a writer mentor.

Northern Voices will include a day long workshop led by John Yorke, BBC Controller, Drama Production.  This workshop will give a detailed and invaluable insight into writing continuing drama for the BBC.  The scheme will also include access to a nationally renowned writer mentor in each region.

Michael Chaplin (North East) is a writer for the screen, theatre, and radio whose creations include Grafters for ITV and Monarch of the Glen for the BBC. 

John Fay (North West) was one of Coronation Street's core writers between 2001 and 2007.  He created the conspiracy thriller Mobile for Granada TV and has also written episodes of Torchwood, Robin Hood, and Clocking Off for the BBC.

Lisa Holdsworth (Yorkshire) was first commissioned on an episode of Fat Friends and was shortlisted for a Best New Writer BAFTA. She spent three years on the Emmerdale writing team and has written extensively for New Tricks, Waterloo Road, and Robin Hood.

At the end of the development process each script will be read by BBC writersroom and the best will be passed onto John Yorke's team and BBC Drama North.  The aim of this project is for new regional talent to develop a calling-card TV Drama script with which they can begin a successful career in writing drama for television.

How to apply to Northern Voices

The scheme is open to writers living within the North East, Yorkshire, or North West region who have already had a script commissioned or had a professional reading of their work (for any platform, film, radio, stage or TV).  Applicants must be over 18 and not in full-time or undergraduate education.

If you wish to discuss your eligibility, please contact your local Screen Agency:

North East - Victoria Johnson victoria@northernmedia.org  0191 269 9219
North West - Jenny Hughes jennyh@visionandmedia.co.uk 0161 244 3751
Yorkshire - Francesca Riley Francesca@screenyorkshire.co.uk 0113 294 4410

If you are interested in applying please download guidelines and application form from:

North East - www.northernmedia.org
North West - www.visionandmedia.co.uk
Yorkshire - www.screenyorkshire.co.uk

Deadline: Noon on Friday 28 August 2009.