CBBC calling new writers

Do you have stories to tell that we've never seen before?

Can you create characters the audience will fall in love with?

We want to find the next generation of CBBC writers with fresh perspectives, original voices, and the ability to create unforgettable characters.

This opportunity is open to any writer who wants to write Children's drama. We are looking for 30-minute original TV scripts of unmissable and infectious storytelling, offering fresh cultural perspectives, tales combining authenticity with hope and joy, stories from a child's point of view, characters that will engage and surprise the audience, scripts that are powerful, emotional, and contemporary, shows that will work for the CBBC audience and channel but can dare to take risks.

They might be action-adventures, comedy-dramas, modern takes on age-old morality, tales shot through with fantasy, magic and wonder, real stories with substance and edge, animated ideas or a combination of animation and live-action - but they must be new stories that will get under the skin of a new generation, the kind of stories they will still talk about in years to come.

Process

A shortlist of 15-20 writers will be invited to a masterclass in July 2009. The final 8-10 shortlisted writers will then be selected and spend an intensive residential week developing their work, improving their craft and pitching to CBBC in September/October 2009. The final shortlist will receive CBBC mentoring from the development team and a £300 bursary.

Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 1 July 2009

Shortlist notified: Friday 10 July 2009
Masterclass: Tuesday 28 July 2009
Final selection: Writers notified Friday 4 September 2009
Residential: 28 September - 2 October 2009

Selection

The selection panel will include Anne Gilchrist (Controller, CBBC), Steven Andrew (Head of CBBC Drama, Acquisitions, and Animation), Kate Rowland (BBC Creative Director, New Writing),

To Enter

Make sure you read the Rules of Entry below. To enter, you must complete an online application form. Once you have completed the form and it has been emailed back to you, print out a copy of the email and make sure you include it with your script when sending it to:

CBBC New Writers
BBC writersroom
Grafton House
379-381 Euston Road
London NW1 3AU

Before you apply, visit BBC Writersroom for more infomation on the terms and conditions as well as the Rules of Entry.