The Tony Doyle Bursary For New Writing is open to writers who have a different story to tell and who are passionate about starting a writing career in television. The scheme, run by BBC Northern Ireland, is now in its fourth year.
Robert Cooper, BBC Northern Ireland’s Head Of Drama, said: “Writers are the lifeblood of television drama and the Bursary is part of our commitment to nurturing a new generation of them. We want to find those writers who have something to say and the talent to say it with passion and tension.”
The Tony Doyle Bursary For New Writing provides a fantastic opportunity for writers new to television. Last year’s winner of the prestigious £2000 television writer’s award, Dominique Moloney, already has a television series in development with BBC Northern Ireland as does one of the 2002 finalists Jennifer Roche, while the inaugural 2001 winner, Bill Murphy, is currently writing his second series for Radio 4.
The aim of the Tony Doyle New Writers’ Bursary is to encourage Irish writing for television - the medium in which Tony excelled - and to forge creative links between broadcasters and writers in Ireland.
The judging panel for entries will include Liam Cunningham, Peter Norris, Lorcan Cranitch, Tina Kellegher, Robert Cooper and Sally Doyle.
The bursary’s core aim is to assist the development of new writers. To achieve this, the four chosen finalists will take part in a residential seminar where they will undergo intensive, structured, script sessions with members of BBC Northern Ireland Drama’s development team and with top script writers and producers. Previous tutors have included Barbara Machin (Waking The Dead, Casualty, The Bill), Kieran Prendiville (Ballykissangel, Care, Roughnecks, Vicious Circle), Lizzie Mickery (Messiah, Sinners, Burnside), Adrian Hodges (Amongst Women, David Copperfield, Kavangh QC), Ali White (Any Time Now) Peter Norris (Between The Lines, Ultimate Force, Uncle Silas), Kate Triggs (Messiah, Sinners, Any Time Now, Eureka Street, Amongst Women) and BBC Northern Ireland’s Head Of Drama Robert Cooper (Messiah, Sinners, Amongst Women, Truly Madly Deeply, As The Beast Sleeps, Ballykissangel).
BBC Northern Ireland Drama has a reputation for offering Northern Irish and Irish writers such as Colin Bateman (Divorcing Jack), John Forte, (Henri) Gary Mitchell (As The Beast Sleeps), Pearse Elliott (A Rap At The Door), Barry Devlin (Runway One), Ronan Bennett (Love Lies Bleeding), Anne Devlin (The Long March) Graham Reid (The Billy Plays), Ali White (Any Time Now), Terry Cafolla (Holy Cross), Stewart Parker (Catchpenny Twist) and many others, their first opportunity to write for television.
All submissions should be received by 31 January 2004.
For further details on how and where to submit entries, please visit BBC Northern Ireland's website here.
