Coming Up 2012

Russell Tovey in New Cross

Russell Tovey, Ashley Walters, Lara Pulver, MyAnna Buring, Thomas Turgoose and  Yasmin Paige are amongst the actors confirmed to star in Channel 4's Coming Up - the annual talent initiative which offers up-and-coming writers and directors the unique opportunity to showcase their work on national TV.  

Coming Up 2012 will see emerging off-screen talent working with established on-screen talent to create seven brand new original dramas to be shown on Channel 4.   Now in its eleventh year, the scheme has launched the careers of some of the most exciting writers and directors in British TV - and is the only UK initiative offering aspiring talent the opportunity to make an authored drama with a guaranteed network broadcast.

This year's Coming Up directors include Prasanna Puwanarajah, who was recently selected to direct a short film for the Olympic opening ceremony; and MJ Delaney who came to prominence with Newport State of Mind, one of the most talked about virals of 2010.  Writers include Tom Wells who was this year awarded the Critics Circle New Playwright Award for his acclaimed play The Kitchen Sink, and Vivienne Franzmann who was a teacher for 12 years before writing her first play, Mogadishu, for which she was nominated for the Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright Award.

Ben Stoll, Drama Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 says: "Coming Up epitomises Channel 4's passion for discovering and supporting new talent.  It's a fantastic opportunity for emerging writers and directors to see their distinctive ideas realised on screen, whilst allowing audiences to get the first glimpse of the storytellers of the future.  Add to the mix some of the most exciting current acting talent, and I think we can expect some thrilling pieces of work."