Irish director Imogen Murphy has been selected for this year’s Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme at the BBC.
Directors selected for this year’s scheme will be placed on BBC Studios’ key dramas Doctors, Holby City, Casualty and, for the first time, River City. Imogen will be directing on ‘Casualty’.
Imogen, who previously directed ‘Hollyoaks’ and ‘Red Rock’, told IFTN, "It's a real privilege to direct drama for the BBC. I'm delighted to be selected for such a competitive scheme among a group of highly talented directors."
Now in its second year, the scheme, which is supported by BBC Writersroom, Creative Skillset and Directors UK, is building on its successful debut year and expanding its regional reach, and for the first time, trainees will be placed in BBC Studios’ River City; the remaining trainees will be placed on Doctors, Holby City, and Casualty. All dramas are produced by BBC Studios.
As part of their training, each director will spend time on one of the BBC’s continuing drama shows, observing and participating in the entire production process of an episode, from pre to post production. The candidate will complete their training by directing a full episode of the show they’re training on.
The scheme attracted over 300 applications from some of the country’s most exciting and innovative emerging directors. Their work was rigorously viewed and assessed by Drama directors and Producers, including Anne Edyvean (Head of BBC Writersroom), Simon Nelson (Development Producer, BBC Writersroom), and a team of experienced TV directors and BBC Executives, who are today, delighted to announce the names of successful candidates.
Oliver Kent, BBC Studios’ Head of Continuing Drama, says: “The Continuing Drama Directors' Scheme is a superb way for us to nurture and guide the great directing talent of the future and I am delighted that such an exciting and talented group of directors will be working on the BBC’s most popular dramas.”
This scheme is funded by the BBC, Directors UK and the High End TV Levy, administered by Creative Skillset, and is run by BBC Writersroom in co-operation with BBC Studios.