BBC Writers has revealed the writers and production companies taking part in its latest Pilot scheme.
For 2024/25 this initiative is partnering 14 talented early-career screenwriters (including two writing pairs) with 12 independent production companies, with a script-commission, giving the screenwriters the opportunity to write the first episode of a potential BBC-commissioned original drama series or serial.
For the first time this year two additional Scotland-based writers are taking part in the Pilot scheme and have been partnered with Scotland-based indies, with support from Screen Scotland.
During the year-long scheme, which runs from July 2024 to June 2025, the writers attend masterclasses and workshops with established television writers, production teams and experts in screenwriting, while developing their original script. The aim is that the writer’s series or serial will be taken into full development by the BBC. The writers were identified from an open callout via the BBC Writers website in September 2023.
The participants in Pilot for 2024/25 are:
- Alex Mathias Lookout Point
- Ali Taylor Mam Tor Productions
- Alvin Yu New Pictures
- Daniel Katanchian Abbottvision
- Danny & Lauren McNamara Two Cities Television
- Emma Ramsay Synchronicity Films
- Faebian Averies Kudos
- Lauren Bensted & Adam Grant 5 Acts Productions
- Matthew McDevitt Hartswood Films
- Paolo Chianta Film Nation
- Sophia Chetin -Leuner Greenacre Films
- Zak Zarafshan Company Pictures
This year’s cohort have heard from writers and industry experts including Emma Frost, Matthew Graham, John Yorke and Daf James alongside sessions from the BBC Audiences team, the Head of BBC Drama Development and 1-2-1s from their mentors in the BBC Drama Commissioning team.
Sami El Hadi, Head of Development for BBC Drama says “Jess Loveland and her team at BBC Writers have assembled an incredibly talented group of emerging writers for the current Pilot scheme. We’re always passionate about finding and championing new voices at BBC Drama, and we’re excited to see the material that comes out of this year’s programme.”
Kieran Hannigan, Head of Scripted at Screen Scotland says “We’re thrilled to be supporting two exciting Scottish voices in this year’s fantastic cohort of BBC Writers Pilot. Screen Scotland is committed to supporting new writing talent and this programme provides a unique opportunity for emerging writers to develop original work with the support of BBC Writers, BBC Drama Commissioning and some of the best drama indies around. We are excited to see what these partnerships can deliver.”
Recent successful outcomes from Pilot include Lost Boys and Fairies written by Welsh writer Daf James and produced by Leeds-based indie Duck Soup Films, which was developed as part of the 2019 scheme, and was broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer earlier in 2024.
Applications for writers to take part in the next Pilot opportunity will be open in early 2026 via the BBC Writers website.
Jon Creamer
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