Open Call for BBC Writers

Their Open Call is not a competition but a means by which the BBC seeks out the best writing talent. You could be new to writing or new to the BBC but equally, you may be a playwright looking to write for TV, or you’ve written for radio drama and would like to try your hand at writing for CBBC. They understand that carving a career as a writer takes time and that each writer’s development needs will be different. They receive many thousands of scripts every year and can only focus on the writers who they feel have the most potential.

What they are looking for?

• In their Open Call they are not looking for projects to commission or produce. They are looking for writers to develop rather than specific projects. They look for what the script tells them about the writer. They see all scripts as a calling card to showcase a writer’s talent, ability, and voice.
• They are especially looking for distinctive voices – and scripts that express those voices. They do not look for more of the same – they look for the writer’s ability to pull an audience into a world and hold them in it. It’s not necessarily about finding precincts or situations that have ‘never been done before’ but having an original take on stories that have the potential to have wide breadth of appeal.
• They are looking for characters who are well rounded and consistent and who drive the narrative rather than serve it. They are looking for a sense of storytelling ability – handling of pace, climax, mood. They are looking to unearth the treasures, the page-turners, the new perspectives, the engaging dialogue and the surprising character creations.
• They want to find that special something that makes them want to read more.
• They look for what a writer can deliver in script form rather than unscripted ideas. They want to see the best possible draft you can achieve. They are not looking for early/first/rough drafts of scripts. Only submit a script to their Open Call when your script is ready, even if it means waiting for a later submission window.
• They may also consider whether a script has real potential to be developed further towards production. If they believe a script could be developed further by a BBC department, they will send it to them with the writer’s knowledge. Original scripts written “on spec” are produced extremely rarely, and writers should not send them in with the expectation that they will be produced. However, original spec’ scripts are the means by which writers get noticed, so you should always write your script with the same level of commitment as if it were for production.

What do they not accept?

• They do not accept any of the following:
  • Scripts from overseas – they are looking for writers with whom the BBC can develop a strong working relationship and who have something to say that will appeal to British audiences. You may be a non-British-born writer, but you must be resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland.
  • Scripts from writers under the age of 18.
  • Submissions by email or post – when their Open Call is open for submissions, they can only accept scripts online via their E-Submissions system. Postal submissions are not possible under any circumstances.
  • Scripts previously submitted to their Open Call (or Script Room) opportunity, including resubmissions of work which has since been re-written and further episodes of a series or serial which has previously been submitted. This also covers submissions sent when they were previously branded ‘BBC Writersroom’.
  • Ideas, pitches, outlines, synopses, or treatments on their own – they must always receive a script with every submission. Samples or extracts from scripts are not eligible either. They want to see a full script or episode.
  • Multiple episodes or separate short scripts which together add up to 30 pages or more of script.
  • Multiple submissions from an entrant.
  • DVDs, videos, CDs, audio tapes, or any video/audio material (whether it accompanies a script or otherwise). Any links to video/audio content will not be considered in the reading process.
  • New scripts written for existing or previously produced shows and/or characters (for example scripts of Doctor Who, EastEnders, Sherlock or using characters from these shows).

Eligibility Criteria 

• To be eligible to enter the BBC Writers Open Call you must meet the following criteria:
  • You must be at least 18 years of age at the date of your submission.
  • You must be a permanent/full time resident of, but do not need to have been born in, the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland.
  • You must not be employed as part of the BBC Writers or a person connected to this scheme.
  • Proof of age, identity, residency and eligibility may be requested.  The BBC’s decision as to the eligibility of individual entrants will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • Entrants must submit no later than the closing date.

Ineligibility Criteria 

• Scripts previously submitted to their Open Call (or Script Room) opportunity, including resubmissions of work which has since been re-written and further episodes of a series or serial which has previously been submitted.  This also covers submissions sent when they were previously branded ‘BBC Writersroom’.
• Multiple submissions from an entrant.
• Multiple episodes or short scripts which together add up to 30 pages or more of script.
• Extracts. Each script submitted must be complete.
• DVDs, videos, CDs, audio tapes, or any video/audio material (whether it accompanies a script or otherwise). Any links to video/audio content will not be considered in the reading process.
• New scripts written for existing or previously produced shows and/or characters (for example scripts of Doctor Who, EastEnders, Sherlock or using characters from these shows).
• Short stories, novels, unpublished prose manuscripts, poetry, short film scripts (under 30 pages) or work you wish to have adapted into a script.
• Adaptations for broadcast of another writer’s idea (including adaptations of other writers’ novels).
• Comedy sketch shows and pure narrative comedy series or sitcoms.
• Any script which has been developed, created or generated using AI tools.

Application Requirements

• In their Open Call they accept:
  • Drama or Comedy/Drama scripts written for Film, TV, Radio, Stage or Children’s TV/Radio scripts which are a minimum of 30 pages long (excluding title/character pages).
  • Scripts will be read anonymously i.e. without a name attached, until after the full-read stage so please remove any personal details (name, address, contacts etc) from the front page of the script or within the document itself.
  • A paragraph about your writing history (max. 250 words). You do not need to have any credits or professionally produced work, they just want to understand your passion for writing.
  • A paragraph on what you hope to get out of their writer development programme (max. 250 words).

For more information, visit BBC.