BBC Writers

NEW BLOG POST - Follow the Money by Ayad Andrews 📻 @ayadandrews introduces his new Audio Drama, which explores the genesis of the landmark film about the Watergate Scandal, All the President’s Men. In 1976, America was still reeling from the Watergate scandal. President Nixon had resigned and public faith in its politicians had been shaken to its core. Into this febrile climate arrived All the President’s Men, a film that would become one of the most celebrated American movies of the 20th century. Ayad Andrews’ new drama Follow the Money tells the story behind the creation of the film. Ayad’s new audio drama stars James Purefoy (William Goldman), Rupert Evans (Robert Redford), Kevin Bishop (Carl Bernstein), and Tom Brittney (Bob Woodward) as seen above (photo credit: Jon Calver).   Head over to our website to read about the creation of this new audio drama produced by @cplproductions ✍️ You can listen to Follow The Money now on @bbcsounds 🔊 #NewWriting #AudioDrama #Writing

“Nothing worthwhile is easy...” - John Morton (creator and writer of 2026, W1A, and 2012) gives his best tip for new writers ✍️ You can watch John’s new series 2026, as well as W1A and 2012, now on BBC iPlayer! #WritingTips #Writing #NewWriters

✏️New Blog Post - Beat Sheets - Making Your Scenes Do More Work by Writer and Director, Danny Stack    “Here’s something that happens to every writer, at every level. You’ve got a scene that technically works. The characters are there, the information’s working, the story moves forward. But it reads flat. There’s no spark. It’s functional furniture, not storytelling. That’s where beat sheets come in.    “A beat sheet is a planning tool for your scene, and it does one simple, important thing: it makes you think about your scene in terms of dramatic structure before you write a single line of dialogue. You can use it at the planning stage, or drag it out during a rewrite when a scene isn’t quite firing. Either way, it’s one of the most practical techniques in a screenwriter’s kit.” - Danny Stack   Head over to our website to read Danny’s wonderful blog post and learn how to nail your beat sheets! ✍️ #Blog #BBCWriters #WritingTips #WritingAdvice

“I want people to take whatever they need from my TV shows, and moreover I just hope they enjoy them” - Richard Gadd discussing what he hopes people take from his writing ✍️ BBC Writers’ full interview with @mrrichardgadd is now available to watch on our YouTube channel and website. You can also watch the first episode of Richard Gadd’s new series ‘Half Man’ on @bbciplayer in the UK 📺 #Writing #TV #HalfMan #BBCDrama

“I think at the heart of any good idea is a great risk…” - @mrrichardgadd gives his top three writing tips ✍️ BBC Writers were lucky enough to sit down with the wonderful Richard Gadd ahead of the premiere of his new BBC One series Half Man. You can now watch the full interview with Richard on our website where he talks all about the craft of writing, how to protect yourself when writing from personal experience, and introduces his new series 📺 Half Man is available to watch on @bbciplayer from 24th April in the UK and will air on HBO in the US #WritingTips #Writing #BeInspired #Screenwriting

Get ready for a new series about soaring romance, crushing heartbreak and what love might feel like when everyone outside of your family is terrified of you... Charlotte Regan, the writer and director of Mint introduces her new drama in a new blog post on our website 🌎 “I think everyone’s process is so different. I wish I could wake up at 6am sit in silence and get 50 pages done but I just can’t. And I wish I could just ‘follow the joy’ but I’d be in bloody financial ruin if I waited around for joy to strike me. So for me the best advice is to take all the advice with a pinch of salt. None of it will be perfect for you and that’s ok.” - Charlotte Regan (Writer & Director, Mint) ✍️ All episodes of Mint arrive on BBC @bbciplayer at 6am on Monday 20 April, with episodes airing on BBC One from that night 📺 #TVDrama #Writing #Interview

Are you looking for somewhere to submit your writing? Here’s a selection of the current non-BBC Writers opportunities that are live right now! For the complete list of necessary details and entry requirements for the free-to-enter writing opportunities outlined below - head to the opportunities page on the BBC Writers Website for more information: 1 - Film Hub North | Script Lab 2026 - Deadline: 17.00 on Monday 11th May 2026 A programme for new writers based in the North of England which sees their short film idea develop into a script that’s production ready. 2 - Perth Theatre | Scratch Night - Deadline: 23.59 on Monday 20th April 2026 Perth Theatre is seeking exciting new writing in the early stages of development for an upcoming Scratch Night. 3 - Rebound Productions | Search for New Playwrights - Deadline: Midnight on Friday 30th of April 2026 Rebound Productions are looking for a series of one act fictional stage plays to be produced. 4 - Caromoon Productions | Playwriting Programme -Deadline: 5pm on Sunday 26th April 2026 Eight writers will be selected to take an idea and craft it into a full length play over the course of four months. 5 - The Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show | Bite-Size Plays in association with Pleasance Theatre Trust - Deadline: 12:00 pm on Friday 1st May 2026 Bite-Size Plays in association with Pleasance Theatre are searching for new 10-15 minute plays to be performed as part of this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 6 - The Bay International Film Festival | Screenwriting Club - Monthly Meet Ups For those who enjoy screenwriting but prefer not to work alone, the monthly Screenwriters Club group in Lancaster offers a space to write alongside others. 7 - Playwrights' Studio Scotland | National Script Reading Service - Rolling Submissions Playwrights' Studio Scotland's free script reading service provides an opportunity for Scotland's writers to receive valuable script feedback from theatre professionals. 8 - Stolen Moments | Writer Call Out - Rolling submissions A call out for short plays from Welsh and Wales-based writers for a new theatre platform.

“I think of things and they happen...” - Russell T Davies discusses his favourite thing about being a writer 🖋️ Head over to our website to find the full video interview with @russelltdavies63 where he discusses his best writing tips, his favourite writing memories, and much more. On our website you can also find a plethora of other writer interviews and resources to help with your writing career! #BeInspired #Interview #Writing

We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of BBC Comedy Collective and BBC Writers alumnus, Michael Patrick. Michael joined BBC Voices Belfast in 2019 and the BBC Comedy Collective in 2023 with his writing partner Oisín Kearney. Michael was insanely talented - whip smart, driven, mischievous and so incredibly funny. We are so proud to have had him in our BBC Scripted family. Michael’s legacy will continue to live on through all his brilliant work. He is a true inspiration, and we feel extremely lucky to have known and worked with him. Our love goes out to his family, friends, Oisín, and to everyone who had the absolute privilege of knowing him.

The BBC Comedy Collective is open for applications from today until 23.59 on Wednesday 6th May. This supercharged bursary scheme offers 10 places each year to mid-level comedy creatives; a mix of writers, writer/performers, producers, directors and editors. It’s not an entry level opportunity as applicants must have at least one credit in their chosen field, although this can be across any platform eg TV, radio, theatre, podcast, stand up, short film or commercials. Find out full information and apply via the BBC Comedy Commissioning website. #comedy #opportunity

“The most compelling thing to bring to a script, is you...” - our new Be Inspired interview with Russell T Davies is now live on our website! @russelltdavies63 was kind enough to take time out of his schedule at the @nwnnewwritingnorth Screenwriting Weekender at the start of the year to talk with BBC Writers about his writing career, his best writing advice, and much more 🖋️ Head over to our website to find the full video interview with Russell as well as a plethora of other writer interviews and resources to help with your writing career! #Writing #WritingAdvice #BeInspired #NewWriting

NEW BLOG POST - Babies ✍️   Writer and Director Stefan Golaszewski (Mum, Marriage, Him & Her) introduces his new bittersweet love story for BBC One.   Babies is a gripping, warm and urgent love story about a couple struggling through the experience of pregnancy loss. Lisa and Stephen (30s) suffer multiple miscarriages, their hope heroic in the face of grief. As the audience yearns for them, roots for them, feels for them, there is always the glow of hope, humour and love. The series also follows Amanda and Dave - a new couple navigating their own challenges and testing their compatibility.    Their complex relationship, set against Lisa and Stephen’s ongoing pregnancy journey, begins to expose cracks in Stephen and Dave’s long-standing friendship.   Stefan Golaszewski introduces Babies on our website. Head over to our blog to read the full piece #TV #Writing #BBCWriters