Channel 4 joins the Northern Writers' Awards

12 November 2014

A new scheme was launched today to identify raw and diverse television talent from the north of England.

Launched by Northumbria University, Newcastle, in partnership with Channel 4 as part of the Northern Writers’ Awards, the new award will offer a unique opportunity for two writers to be mentored through the script commissioning process with Lime Pictures and RED Production Company.

The Channel 4 / Northumbria University Writing for Television Award will open for submissions on Friday 14 November, as part of the annual Northern Writers’ Awards, and is open to both complete beginners as well as those who already have some writing experience.

One of the winning writers will be mentored by Lime Pictures in Liverpool (Hollyoaks) and will shadow the process of script development, from first draft to broadcast script. This may lead to a commission to write an original episode of the serial that will be broadcast on Channel 4. The other winner will be mentored by RED Production Company in Salford (Scott and Bailey; Happy Valley) and will receive advice on script development and technique. They will also receive support from top television professionals to develop their own original ideas for broadcast.

Channel 4 has a unique remit to represent and to portray the diversity of contemporary Britain, so would particularly encourage submissions from Black and Minority Ethnic and disabled writers, who are particularly under-represented in this area of the TV industry.

Lee Mason, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Northumbria University and New Writing North on this new award. There is a wealth of writing talent in the north of England, and the opportunity to identify and nurture that talent is incredibly exciting.

“Lime Pictures and RED Production Company are hugely respected production companies that have a large amount of experience and advice that will be immensely helpful for aspiring writers. They also both share an incredibly strong reputation for supporting new talent from the north of England.

“We very much look forward to reading submissions from a diverse range of new writers whose work offers a fresh perspective on life in 21st century Britain.”

Lucy Winskell, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business and Engagement) at Northumbria University, said: “We’re delighted to have launched a new partnership with Channel 4 to offer this opportunity to new writers, through our continued work with New Writing North on the Northern Writers’ Awards.

“Together we are committed to celebrating and supporting writing talent, growing new relationships with key organisations, and offering more and more opportunities for talented writers to see their work in production.”

The winning writers will be revealed at the Northern Writers’ Awards ceremony in late June at Northumbria University in Newcastle. The writers will begin their mentoring processes at Lime Pictures and RED Production Company in July 2015 until April 2016.

Full submission guidelines and applications are invited online at www.northernwritersawards.com from Friday 14 November, with a deadline of Monday 2 February.

New Writing North will also be undertaking a series of roadshows throughout December and early January to meet potential applicants and help them with the submission process. The roadshows will take place in Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester and Wakefield, and full details and booking is at www.northernwritersawards.com from Friday 14 November.

To find out more about studying creative writing at Northumbria, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/pg for postgraduate opportunities, or, for information about its undergraduate courses, sign up to its November open day by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/openday.

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

- New Writing North is the writing development agency for the north of England, and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. The Northern Writers’ Awards are its central platform for discovering and developing new writers from across the region, and were founded in 2000. www.newwritingnorth.com.

- Channel 4 is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded, not-for-profit public service broadcaster and has a remit to be innovative, experimental and distinctive. Its public ownership and not-for-profit status ensure all profit generated by its commercial activity is directly reinvested back into the delivery of its public service remit. As a publisher-broadcaster, Channel 4 is also required to commission UK content from the independent production sector and currently works with over 400 creative companies across the UK every year. In addition to the main Channel 4 service, its portfolio includes: E4, More4, Film4, 4Music, 4seven, channel4.com, video-on-demand service 4oD and standalone digital projects.

- Northumbria University, Newcastle was awarded the Times Higher Education Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts in 2012, as well as The Journal’s Culture Award for Best Arts and Business Partnership in 2013. Complementing its work with New Writing North and Channel 4, Northumbria University collaborates with a range of high profile cultural partners, including BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Live Theatre, Great North Run Culture and Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums, providing students with industry exposure and live project opportunities.