What is Write Across Bradford?
Write Across Bradford is an eight-week development programme specifically designed to support emerging writers and creatives who are at the early stages of their writing careers. Through a series of engaging workshops, expert-led sessions and networking opportunities, we’ll explore the art of crafting compelling stories for television, empowering participants to develop their own new original series idea.
This professional development programme is led by BBC Writers in collaboration with our programme partner organisations: Word Up North, Bradford Producing Hub, New Writing North, Bradford Arts Centre and Screen Yorkshire.
Selected writers will take part in a range of craft and industry sessions designed to grow their professional skills, cover the foundations of storytelling for the screen, and demystify the process of writing for television. They will learn how to generate exciting ideas for television by analysing recent shows that have resonated with audiences and exploring techniques that spark creativity. Writers will hear from industry guests such as screenwriters, producers, and commissioners, as well as connecting and developing working relationships with peers amongst the group.
During their time on the programme all participants will define and develop an original idea for a television drama or comedy drama series, laying the groundwork for a one-page pitch document. Writers will work collaboratively with support from the BBC Writers team, industry experts and with their peers in the group to develop this idea, receiving editorial feedback and creative support along the way. It is hoped that the pitch will function as a creative springboard for the writer to develop further.
We are excited to invite up to 12 talented writers to join this programme, which will run from July to September 2026. Most sessions will be delivered digitally via online video calls, allowing flexibility, with select in-person sessions and workshops taking place in Bradford.
Participants can expect approximately one workshop session per week, lasting 90 minutes to two hours. Participants’ commitment to attending all sessions is vital, and we will strive to accommodate the group’s existing work and personal commitments when scheduling. We will endeavour to give as much notice as possible regarding dates and times of sessions, but we might need to be flexible on occasion, owing to speaker availability. On those exceptional occasions where participants cannot attend live, we will endeavour to record the sessions. Support will be provided for any participants who need assistance accessing the online workshops.
To ensure accessibility, this programme is free to attend for all successful applicants. We will cover all reasonable travel costs and access needs. Please note that this is a non-paid writing opportunity.
Eligibility
Writers should be over the age of 18 and currently live full-time in the Bradford District (specifically the City of Bradford, and the district wards listed on this map).
We strongly encourage applications from individuals who have been historically under-represented in the screen industries.
Please read our Terms and Conditions of Entry in full before submitting.
What will I need to submit?
- A paragraph about your writing history. You do not need to have any credits, awards or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing and a little bit of the journey you have been on up to this point.
- A sample of your previous dramatic writing. This should be an original written piece of drama or comedy-drama (we are unable to accept sit com scripts), in the form of a radio, theatre, television, or film script. Samples should be a minimum of 20 pages (excluding title and/or character pages) and submitted in the form of a complete script, we cannot accept unfinished scripts or extracts.
- A response to this Creative Task.
We would like you to imagine a lead character for an original new TV series set somewhere within the Bradford District. Please provide us with a sentence or two describing the idea for your show and then introduce us to your lead character by responding to the following character questions (just a sentence or two per question is ideal):
1. Your character’s name/age/gender
2. Where were they born? Where do they live now?
3. Who are their parents?
4. Who do they consider their closest friend or biggest rival?
5. Do they have a romantic partner?
6. What do they do for a living?
7. What is their greatest achievement?
8. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to them?
9. If we searched their name using an internet search engine, what would we find?
10. When was the first time they fell in love?
11. What is their biggest secret?
12. What is their greatest regret?
13. What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to them?
14. What is their greatest fear? What keeps them up at night?
15. What makes them happy?
16. What item can they not live without?
Selection
All entries will be reviewed by the BBC Writers team and representatives from our partner organisations on the following criteria:
- The quality of the writing sample (evidence of a compelling story; ability to write interesting characters and believable dialogue; ability to authentically bring the story world to life); and
- The originality of the response to the creative task
To arrive at our final selected writers, we may ask applicants to attend a short video call with members of the selection panel. This will also provide an opportunity to talk about your writing and any ideas that you would like to develop through the programme. We will be sure to give applicants good notice if invited for a follow-up conversation.
Final Facts
Submissions will open on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 at 6.30pm. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 4th March 2026 at 12 noon. We will aim to come back to everyone with the outcome of their submission by end of June 2026. The programme will commence in July and will run for 8 weeks. All details and schedule will be provided to successful candidates nearer the time.
Unfortunately, due to limited resources we’re unable to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications.
If you have any questions please contact us via email at bbcwriters@bbc.co.uk
Deadline: 4 March 2026
Source: BBC Writers