Open Call: Terms and Conditions
BBC Writers Open Call – Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions were last updated on 28th September 2026 at 3.30pm.
*Please Note* All writers will be obliged to confirm that they have read these Terms and Conditions and agree with them before submitting their entry via our Esubmissions system. Any submission which breaches the Terms and Conditions will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.
BBC Writers Open Call 2026 – 2027 – Terms and Conditions
1. To be eligible to enter the BBC Writers Open Call you must meet the following criteria:
a) You must be at least 18 years of age at the date of your submission.
b) You must be a resident of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland with a right to work in the UK.
c) You must not be employed as part of BBC Writers or as BBC staff in a Scripted team in BBC Public Service (including Drama and Comedy Commissioning and BBC Film) or a person connected to this scheme.
d) Proof of age, identity, residency, right to work and eligibility may be requested at a later date. The BBC’s decision as to the eligibility of individual applicants will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Applicants must submit no later than the closing date and time.
**If you have specific access requirements then please Contact BBC Writers by 5PM, Friday 27th November 2026 to discuss your application.**
Please note: Once your application has been submitted you cannot upload a newer version. You will need to withdraw your application completely and then resubmit it in its entirety if you wish to make any amendments ahead of the deadline.
We recommend that you make a copy of your answers to the application questions before withdrawing your submission as your original answers will not be saved within E-Submissions.
To help writers prepare their Open Call application before submitting, we’ve provided a downloadable document detailing the steps of the process. Click on the link below:
Open Call: E-Submissions Application Preview
Please note this list is only for reference. You’ll still need to complete your application via the BBC E-Submissions system (using the submission link provided on the Open Call webpage) which also includes sections on data usage and equality monitoring.
2. Please submit:
- An original Drama or Comedy/Drama script for TV, Film, Radio or Stage written for adults or young adults that is a minimum of 30 pages long and a maximum of 130 pages (excluding title/character pages). You must submit a complete script, not an extract of a longer project. The script can be for any genre (including Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy etc.) Scripts will be read anonymously 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 (maximum 250 words). You do not need to have any credits or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing.
- A paragraph on what you hope to get out of our writer development programme if successful (maximum 250 words).
b) Your script must be submitted as a single PDF document with a maximum file size of 10MB via the BBC Writers E-Submissions System using the link provided for the opportunity. There are sections in the application form for you to provide answers to the additional questions.
c) Your application must be legibly typed and formatted. Entries must be written in English. If you submit any part of a script in another language you must also include your own translation of this into English. Please ensure you retain a copy of your submission as submissions cannot be returned.
The BBC Writers Script Submission Style Guide
d) You may submit either individually or as part of a writing team of up to a maximum of two people. If entering as a pair, both entrants must be writers, and both must meet the entry requirements. We do not accept scripts which are written by three or more writers.
e) Only one entry may be submitted by each writer, either as a solo writer or as part of a writing partnership.
3. The BBC, as data controller, is responsible for handling personal data provided to the BBC, including in any contributions, in accordance with data protection law. The BBC has a legitimate interest in using the personal data for journalistic, artistic and literary purposes and in the public interest and in using the personal data for the performance of the contract with the BBC. For more information visit: www.bbc.co.uk/writers/opportunities/privacy-notice.
4. All applications must be the original work of the applicant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The BBC accepts no liability if applicants ignore these Terms & Conditions and applicants agree to fully indemnify the BBC against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these Terms & Conditions.
5. BBC Writers receives a high number of applications, and similarities of subject matter often occur. We cannot undertake to compensate you if material similar to yours, received coincidentally from another source, is subsequently commissioned or produced.
6. The following are ineligible and will not be considered:
a) Comedy sketch shows and pure narrative comedy series or sitcoms.
b) Any script which has been developed, created or generated using AI tools. However, the use of AI for assistive purposes is permissible.
c) Scripts previously submitted to our Open Call (or Script Room) or Writers Access Group 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 we were previously branded 'BBC Writersroom'.
d) Multiple submissions from an entrant.
e) Multiple episodes or short scripts which together add up to 30 pages or more of script. (For example, you cannot send 3 episodes of 10 pages per episode or 4 episodes of 8 pages per episode.)
f) Multiple episodes within a single PDF document.
g) Scripts which are either under 30 pages in length or over 130 pages in length.
h) Names or identifying information on a script. Scripts will be read anonymously so please remove any personal details (name, address, contacts etc) from the front page of the script or within the document itself.
Please note: when converting a script into a PDF document, some dedicated scriptwriting software will automatically create a title page with the author’s name included. It is your responsibility to ensure that this is removed from the PDF submitted.
i) Extracts. Each script submitted must be complete.
j) Any video/audio material in physical or digital form (whether it accompanies a script or otherwise). Any video/audio content will not be considered in the reading process.
k) 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).
l) Short stories, novels, unpublished prose manuscripts, poetry, short film scripts (under 30 pages) or work you wish to have adapted into a script.
m) Adaptations for broadcast of another writer’s idea (including adaptations of other writers’ novels).
n) Scripts and credits written for documentary, docudrama, news and current affairs or factual programmes.
7. Applications will be judged on the following criteria:
a) Quality of writing;
b) Strength of story and structure;
c) Ability to write believable dialogue;
d) Skill in inhabiting characters and developing convincing relationships between them;
e) Ability to authentically bring the world to life; and
f) Ability to portray the writers' ‘voice’ in their storytelling.
8. Applications will be judged and selected using the following process. All applications will be read anonymously until Stage Four:
Stage One – 10 Page Sift
All eligible entries will be reviewed by a panel of experienced professional script readers, who will read at least the first ten pages of a script and assess and discuss the applications against the criteria outlined above. Our reader pool includes people who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodiverse.
Stage Two – 30 Page Sift
Scripts which hook our reader’s attention will progress to a 30-page read by a second script reader, who will then consider if the script should proceed to Stage Three to be read in full by a third reader.
Stage Three – Full Read (Longlist)
Scripts which reach the full read stage will be read by a third reader who will decide whether to put the script forward to Stage Four.
Stage Four – BBC Writers Team Read & Shortlist
Following the Full Read stage, the BBC Writers team will review the remaining scripts and undertake a fourth full read to create a final shortlist. At least two producers will read each of the scripts at this stage.
Following this, the BBC Writers team will then invite shortlisted writers for an interview with a view to the writer being considered for suitable development opportunities including our Writers Access Group, Scripted and Voices groups. Interviews are likely to take place online over Zoom.
Writers whose scripts reach Stage Four will also be provided with a script report once the process has concluded.
9. We receive thousands of scripts within each Open Call window so it will take several months before you are informed of the outcome of your submission. Whilst we appreciate that some writers may be disappointed by the outcome of the process, please note that the BBC has a zero-tolerance policy towards aggressive or abusive communications.
10. Selected writers will be required to sign a Participation Agreement.
Entrants must agree to take part in any post-scheme publicity, if required.
11. The BBC reserves the right to disqualify applications that are inconsistent with the BBC Editorial Policy Guidelines, or which may bring the BBC into disrepute, including any applications which profit from criminal activity.
12. If writers don’t meet any of the expectations detailed in this document, including but not limited to the ‘BBC Values’ we reserve the right to take appropriate action which may include withdrawing your place on the scheme. Where it deems appropriate, the BBC may undertake additional checks, the specifics of which will be agreed between you and the BBC if required.
13. To the extent permitted by law, the BBC excludes liability for any loss and or damage (whether such damage or any losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise) including financial, reputational loss or disappointment.
14. The BBC, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries, agencies and or any other organisations associated with the Scheme, do not accept any liability whatsoever for any technical failure, malfunction, nor for any other problems with any server, internet access, electronic or mechanical system issues or otherwise, which may result in any contribution being lost, not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
15. The BBC reserves the right to cancel or alter the scheme at any stage, including members of the judging panel if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside its control. In this event, a notice will be posted on the following website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writers.
16. The BBC reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any stage, including changing or substituting the selection process and the development opportunities. In this event, a notice will be posted on the following website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writers.
17. By applying for the scheme, applicants warrant that they have legal capacity to enter the scheme and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
18. The BBC’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
19. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
