News

Aspiring drama writers from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic [BAME] backgrounds are being offered an opportunity to work on Britain’s biggest continuing drama as ITV announced the return of its successful writing initiative, Original Voices.

It’s important that our programmes and workforce reflect the true diversity of modern society so the initiative aims to provide training opportunities in ITV Continuing Drama, developing the writing skills of applicants from BAME backgrounds, while also creatively connecting ITV with diverse talent that is currently under represented on mainstream channels.

First launched in 2013, ITV has run the Original Voices scheme four times so far with writers gaining the opportunity to join the Story teams and even the Writing teams of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

For the current intake, Original Voices, which now returns to Coronation Street, is seeking submissions from talented BAME writers.he four considered best-suited to working on Continuing Drama will be invited to spend time in the Coronation Street Story office and Script Department. The successful candidates will be given the opportunity to write a shadow script, which will be commissioned at the same time as the script by the current show writers, giving the successful candidates a clear understanding of the whole story to script process.

Original Voices offers a great storylining and writing experience which can be an invaluable experience in the industry . Successful candidates will be paid a fee on a fixed term contract.

From ITV’s perspective, we need our shows not just to look diverse on screen but to feel diverse in their heart. And that comes from having a diverse editorial team making them. This scheme opens us up to brand new diverse talent and introduces us to people who will be story lining, script editing, writing and one day hopefully producing ITV’s two most important shows, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. John Whiston, ITV’s Managing Director of Continuing Drama

We are delighted to support Original Voices and are committed to creating opportunities for ITV to broaden the range of writers we work with. Diversity of voices is the lifeblood of creativity and it is essential that ITV works towards representing the diversity of modern Britain, both on and off screen. Ade Rawcliffe, Head of Diversity, ITV Commissioning

Find out more about our priority of Fostering creativity by embracing diversity.

Application Information

Applicants interested in this unique scheme can apply by sending one sample script (television, film, theatre, radio or similar), accompanied by a short script synopsis and a biography/CV.

Scripts should be between 30-90 minutes, in a standard format and received by midnight on 31st October 2019.

Submissions will be shortlisted to a group of 12. The successful applicants will be notified in mid November and invited to a one-day Coronation Street storylining workshop in ITV Studios, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester.

Following this, writers will have a week to write up and submit a bespoke story line. On the strength of this story line, pitching skills at the workshop and their original script submission, four writers will be selected to go forward as outlined above.

Applicants can apply by sending the below to [email protected]:

• One sample script of 30-90 minutes (television, film, theatre, radio or similar)
• Short script synopsis - Biography/CV
• All submissions should be received by 31st October 2019