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Six North East production companies selected for the BBC’s Small Indie Fund 2023

Posted on 20 February 202321 February 2023 by North East Screen

The BBC has today that announced six North East companies will be supported through their £1m Small Indie Fund, a huge boost for TV production in the region.

Candle & Bell (Gateshead), MCC Media Limited (Sunderland), Middlechild Productions (Newcastle), Schnoobert Productions (Newcastle), Sea & Sky Pictures (Hartlepool) and Twenty Six 03 Entertainment (Gateshead) will all receive financial support and a BBC commissioning editor as a mentor to support their businesses growth.

The £1m Fund was launched in 2020 to support the development of small independent production companies with turnovers below £10m across Drama, Entertainment, Comedy, Factual, and Daytime.

This year sees the highest number of companies based in the English Regions, with significant increase in support for companies based in the North East and Midlands. 48 companies were selected overall with 79% based in the Nations and the English Regions.

Lisa Laws, Head of Talent and Business and Development at North East Screen said;

“We are delighted for the companies receiving this fund, an amazing outcome for them and for TV production in the North East. We have worked closely with each of the companies so understand how this support will help to drive forward their businesses. The companies selected are a great mix of businesses relocating to the region and home grown talent.”

The fund was set up to help boost the strength of UK production focusing on companies with diverse leadership and producers based outside of London, particularly around global competition.

Lisa continued: “This is a fantastic year for production companies in the North East and the start of great things to come. The region is full of talented creative businesses with an abundance of ideas, skills, and incredible determination. The tide is beginning to turn with support for the screen industry in the North East and funds such as this from the BBC will help to supercharge creative business development, making us a region to look out for nationally and globally. “

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Notes to Editors

North East Companies receiving the Small Indie Fund 2023 (plus quotes)

Candle and Bell is a female led production company based in Gateshead who are crossing over from short films to TV and are keen to find new narratives and diverse stories. www.candleandbell.com

“Candle & Bell is extremely proud to be among this year’s recipients for the BBC Small Indie Fund. This funding gives us a unique opportunity to work on a new slate of comedy TV shows that champion northern talent and bring new tv productions to the North East. We are beyond grateful to the BBC and we’re looking forward to working closely with Emma Lawson and the wider team of BBC commissioners to realise our ambition to make great comedy TV.” – Maria Caruana Glizia, Managing Director.

Sea and Sky Productions are an emerging indie based in Hartlepool who are currently co-developing TV comedy with Hat Trick Productions. www.seaandskyprictures.co.uk

“We are thrilled to be part of The BBC Small Indie Fund. The support will be central to our future growth as a company and for the North East region as a whole.” – Adam Boabda, Managing Director.

MCC Media are a highly experienced Sunderland based team delivering unscripted children’s programmes for global audiences. www.mccmedia.co.uk

“Its great to be working with the BBC again, MCC Media are over the moon to have been selected. Hopefully over the next twelve months we can get some fresh ideas off the ground as we seek to expand within the region.” – Paul McCoy, Managing Director.

Schnoobert Productions are an emerging scripted comedy indie headed up by experienced TV executive Jason Cook, based in Newcastle and already running writers rooms in the region, upskilling our next generation of writers. www.schnoobert.co.uk

“We are over the moon to get this help from the BBC. It really shows their commitment to the region and we have some immense things planned with them that are going to blow people away!” – Jason Cook, Managing Director.

Twenty Six 03 unscripted indie based in Gateshead who are already delivering North East stories to broadcast and through their current BBC productions (Angels of the North and 24/7 Pet Hospital) are upskilling our local talent. www.twentysix03.com

“We hope this funding helps us to continue our goal to maintain a sustainable, world class, production company in Gateshead.” – Antonia Hurford-Jones, Managing Director.

Middle Child / Northern Child are an unscripted indie based in Newcastle already delivering to broadcast. Their BBC One Daytime programme Northern Justice transmitted in September 2023 and they currently have a documentary in production in the North East www.middlechild.tv

“We’re delighted and very grateful to the BBC for choosing Middlechild’s North East base as a recipient of the Small Indie Fund this year. It will allow us to super-charge our development of ideas for them, with any resulting commissions being produced in the region. We hope it helps us further cement our presence in the area and ultimately provide employment for some of the fantastic off-screen talent we know are here.” – Andrew Eastel, Creative Director.

For full details on the BBC fund announcement https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/small-indie-fund-recipients

North East Screen is the screen agency for the North East.

We develop and champion North East England as one of the UK’s leading film and TV production hubs where exceptional screen industry talent can live, create and work.

www.northeastscreen.org

North East Screen Summative Assessment Tender

Posted on 17 February 202317 February 2023 by North East Screen

North East Screen is inviting proposals for a Summative Assessment and an evaluation study and report to establish the performance of the ERDF “Tees Valley Creative Industries SMEs Business Support & Development Project”

We are now inviting organisations and consultants to submit a proposal for this work.

Your proposal should include:

● A brief description of your organisation/area of work

● A description of how you will approach the requirements for this work; specifically your response should address the areas listed in section 2

● A short description of the expertise that would be applied to this work (including CVs in appendix)

● Examples of any previous work which is relevant (maximum 2 examples)

● A quote for this work including VAT and expenses. This piece of work is being partially funded by European Regional Development Fund 2014-20

Click here to view the full Tender Specification,

Selection Process

Process	Date
Deadline for Receipt of Proposals	12 noon 6th March 2023
Review proposals and seek any required clarifications	7^th March – 15th March 2023
Shortlist organisation to carry out evaluation study and report.	17^th March 2023
Evaluation study and report completed by	15^th June 2023

Responses must be returned to Rob Phillips at Rob@northeastscreen.org or Teresa Saint at Teresa@northestscreen.org no later than 12 noon on Monday 6^th March 2023.

Any queries on the tender should be directed to Rob Phillips/Teresa Saint on the same email as above or 0191 823 8233

Scarlett’s Driving School – New series starts 13th of February on BBC One

Posted on 13 February 2023 by North East Screen

Expect drama, tears and plenty of emotionally-fuelled moments as we gear up to see whether Scarlett Moffatt can finally pass her driving test – on the 14th attempt.

Viewers will join Scarlett behind the wheel on her own lessons, with cameras capturing every driving disaster or minor scrape in this new 10-part BBC One series.

Scarlett first started learning to drive aged 17 but despite countless personal achievements and successes since, getting a driving licence has always evaded her.

Now, she has opened the doors to a unique driving school in Teesside to not only bag her own licence, but to help other learner drivers of all ages struggling to pass their tests.

In some cases these luckless drivers have been learning for decades, with others even failing their test as many times as Scarlett.

Each week, one learner will attend Scarlett’s driving school with a long-suffering family member or friend who has patiently taken on the role of coaching them outside of professional lessons, with little luck ….until now.

She won’t be alone, however, and two professional instructors are on hand at the school to feed crucial tips and advice to the loved ones turned amateur teachers via an earpiece during a five-day crash course.

There’s dual carriageway stalls, burned-out handbrakes, near misses, and navigation nightmares, as the learners bid to finally rip up those L plates and hit the road.

The series is not just about driving – it’s about relationships, helping the couples and taking the heat and stress out of driving.

Along the way, our learners also share touching moments with their loved ones as they drive towards a common goal.

Scarlett’s Driving School has been produced for BBC One by Frieda.TV. Commissioned by BBC Factual and BBC England, this 10-part series starts on Monday 13th February at 8.30pm.

24/7 Pet Hospital – New series starting 6th February on BBC One

Posted on 2 February 20232 February 2023 by Victoria Glass

Expect drama, emotion and plenty of heart-warming moments as we follow the work of a close knit pet hospital team who devote their lives to saving animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With privileged access, viewers will bear witness to the staff’s highly specialised work as they tackle whatever comes their way in this new 10-part series.

Viewers will get to know the team from the Wear Referrals hospital in County Durham which, by day, is a specialist care unit treating animals with complex needs and conditions and by night transforms into an A&E unit responding to emergency cases from across the area.

The job always throws up surprises and staff can deal with anything from performing hip replacement surgery on tiny Shih Tzus and extracting corn on the cobs from boxer dogs to treating suspected kidney tumours on much-loved Labradors, wild owls injured by cars – and everything in between.

The series also follows the emotional pet owners who travel from far and wide with their beloved animals to get them life-saving care.

24/7 Pet Hospital has been produced for BBC One by Twenty Six 03, the Gateshead-based production company behind BBC Three series Angels of the North.

Commissioned by BBC Daytime and BBC England, this 10-part series starts on Monday 6 February at 10am.

BBC invites North East locals to meet stars of upcoming 24/7 Pet Hospital series

Posted on 1 February 20231 February 2023 by Victoria Glass

The BBC is inviting North East locals to meet the stars of its upcoming series 24/7 Pet Hospital – as well as bringing along their own furry friends – to a public event being held on Friday 3^rd February.

Expect drama, emotion and plenty of heart-warming moments as viewers follow the work of Wear Referrals in County Durham as part of the 10-part series, whose close knit staff devote their lives to saving animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It’s a specialist care unit treating animals with complex needs and conditions by day and by night it transforms into an A&E unit responding to emergency cases from across the area.

As well as informative talks from the 24/7 Pet Hospital’s highly specialised staff, Sherpa the guide dog, Alfie the Shih Tzu and Nugget the Labrador who all make their TV debuts in the brand new BBC series, will be attending the public event at Hardwick Country Park in Stockton-on-Tees between 9am and 2pm.

Labrador and golden retriever cross Sherpa is a 10 year old guide dog for owner Denise who’s had him for eight years. Calm but sometimes mischievous, he found himself at the pet hospital when a lump removal wound wouldn’t heal.

Alfie is six years old and owners Christine and Glen have had him since he was eight weeks. He’s laidback, inquisitive and nothing phases him. Their local vet referred them to Wear when Alfie’s hip popped out of its socket whilst on a walk. Surgeon Maciej performed a hip replacement, which was the second major surgery he’d done on Alfie.

Labrador Nugget is seven years old and has lived with Walter, 87 all his life. He originally belonged to Walter’s daughter, who sadly passed away last year. Nugget loves walks and is a docile dog who will go up to others and say hello, even if he doesn’t get a very nice response! He found himself at Wear after scans showed abnormalities on one of his kidneys.

Helen Munson, BBC Daytime Commissioning Editor, said: “I can’t wait for our viewers to meet the staff and patients at the Pet Hospital. Get ready for some heart-warming telly as we look at the incredible expertise and loving care that goes into making our beloved pets well again.”

Antonia Hurford-Jones and Duncan Gray, Twenty Six 03 Executive Producers, said: “We’re excited to give people the chance to meet the Wear team and some of the stars of the show.”

24/7 Pet Hospital has been produced for BBC One by Twenty Six 03, the Gateshead-based production company behind BBC Three series Angels of the North.

Commissioned by BBC Daytime and BBC England, this 10-part series starts on Monday 6 February at 10am.

The North East is declared Filming Friendly

Posted on 30 January 20233 November 2023 by North East Screen

North East Screen, the regions screen agency, announces today that all 12 local authorities across the North East have signed up to their Filming Friendly Charter declaring the region officially Filming Friendly for TV and Film production.

As production is increasing in the region, thanks to the investment and commitment of the BBC and the new North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), the opportunity of attracting production companies to film in the region has never been greater.

The Charter, signed by the Chief Executive and Leader of each local authority and Chief Executive of North East Screen, Alison Gwynn, ensures each local authority works closely with North East Screen, assists productions through one point of contact and continues to align their processes and contacts to facilitate filming across all parts of the North East.

Gayle Woodruffe, Operations Director of North East Screen said;

“We’ve proved that big blockbusters such as Indiana Jones and Dungeons and Dragons are attracted to our region and in 2022 we had a record number of BBC programmes filming in the area but we want to see more – more feature films, more TV dramas, more documentaries, more returning series, more factual programmes.

We need to make sure the filming process is as efficient and straight forward as it can be so having the support and readiness of each local council to facilitate and understand the process will help us to achieve this.”

Katie Strachan, Film Office Manager at North East Screen said;

“The economic benefits of production companies filming in our region can’t be underestimated. Productions are not only supported by our local authorities and local crew, but they also require a strong network of local businesses and facilities – from caterers to couriers, accommodation to security there are many services that can support the success of a production, and in turn benefit local business. By attracting more productions to the region, we not only want to grow the industry but encourage more businesses to support these productions and add value to our local economy.”

Gayle continued;

“We are delighted to be fully supported by the local authorities and combined authorities. We have the locations, the talent and the facilities and now this commitment will make us an even more attractive region to film in. ”

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Lights, Camera, Gateshead

Posted on 30 January 202330 January 2023 by Victoria Glass

Council chief executive Sheena Ramsey and Council Leader Martin Gannon, have signed a Filming Friendly Charter on behalf of the local authority with North East Screen – who are developing and championing North East England as a UK-leading film and TV production hub, where industry talent can live, create and work.

In signing the charter Gateshead Council recognises the positive economic and cultural benefits that hosting filming activity can have on the locality. In recent months Gateshead based production company Twenty Six 03 celebrated the broadcast of season 4 of Angels of the North and Signpost Productions produced Robson Green’s ‘Weekend Escapes’ to name just a few successes.

Gateshead has wonderful assets which compliment the regional screen industry, including PROTO’s Advanced Media Production Studio that offers a unique combination of technologies – Virtual Production, Motion Capture, Photogrammetry, 5G Private Networks and XR equipment that enables hands-on experimentation, training and skills development to address gaps that exist today in the creative industry.

The studio includes large LED volume and enhanced motion tracking capabilities will allow creative and digital companies to design and develop new content and experiences. PROTO will also be connected by a 10gbps private network with Target3D studio in London, a unique 5G connected research and innovation offer which bridges the gap between digital and physical.

Cllr Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council, said

“Through signing the filming friendly charter, I am committing Gateshead to play its role in collaboration with the region to grow the screen sector. This is an opportunity for us to showcase the talent we have here in Gateshead but also the region. The creative talent is not just limited to the traditional roles we associate with the screen industry, but we also need skills such as joiners, electricians, caterers and hospitality.”

“By committing to the charter, we recognise the economic benefit that the sector can bring to Gateshead and the region, through attracting productions. We want the region to be recognised as a centre of excellence. We want to develop our own talent but also attract talent into the region across all aspects of screen production.”

Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Gateshead Council, said:

“The Filming Friendly Charter is a fantastic opportunity for the North East to showcase all the hidden gems we have up here, including the amazing technology we have here in Gateshead at PROTO. The filming friendly charter brings a real opportunity for residents from across the region to thrive. I’m delighted that we are a part of the wider regional approach to creating a thriving screen sector that will benefit a whole host of different businesses and individuals. The sector is already proving to be an economic driver for Gateshead with companies relocating successful production companies to Gateshead from the south.”

Duncan Gray, Founder of Twenty Six 03, said:

“In 2020, when we were filming Angels of the North, we discovered that Gateshead was an exciting place to run a creative business. At this point we were filming season 2 of Angels and decided to look at relocating our head offices from Brighton to the North East. As a region it is culturally rich and has a whole host of stories we can tell on TV.

“During filming of Angels of the North we found Gateshead Council to be incredibly proactive, helpful and receptive to filming in the borough.

“Gateshead Council has a tradition of supporting creative enterprise and has shown itself to be forward thinking in ensuring that creative businesses have a place where they can succeed. When it came to establishing a formal head office in the North East it felt right to us that we came to Gateshead.”

Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen said:

“We are working closely with the North East Screen Industries Partnership and the BBC to encourage and promote filming across the North East. We want all parts of our region to benefit. It is important that each local authority area is committed to welcoming production crews and making the process of filming as smooth as can be. North East Screen will support them to do this.

“The economic and tourism benefits of a production filming in our area and the jobs it can create for local crew, as well as local businesses across the supply chain, is something we don’t want any part of the North East to miss out on. We are delighted that Gateshead have signed up to the charter and look forward to working with them to encourage more filming in the borough.”

Showreel Tender for Creative Cities Convention

Posted on 26 January 202326 January 2023 by North East Screen

We are looking for a North East based company to create a showcase video for us to highlight the growth of the screen industry in the North East. Could this be you?

The Creative Cities Convention (CCC) is coming to Newcastle in April 2023 and we are looking for someone to produce an opening video, showcasing to the delegates from across the UK the incredible growth of the sector in the North East.

The CCC will take place on the 26^th and 27^th of April at the Boiler Shop in Newcastle with complementary activity taking place around the region. The convention is a unique meeting place where content creators working outside London can network together and discuss the big media issues that affect them every day. The event is supported by the BBC, ITV, C4, C5 and Pact.

If you are interested in the opportunity to create content that will be seen by broadcasters, commissioners, UK based production companies and film and TV production professionals, then click here to download the full brief.

All pitches should include:

Brief introduction to the agency
Examples of previous work – preferably showing your understanding of our audience
Proposed cost for project

The outcome of the tender process will be a two-month project starting in February and will result in a high-profile showcase of the final videos.
Please send your application to communications@northeastscreen.org by the 9^th of February. Interviews for the opportunity will be conducted week commencing the 13^th of February and the project will start on the 17^th.

National media conference to be held in the North East in 2023

Posted on 9 January 202325 January 2023 by North East Screen

The popular screen sector conference Creative Cities Convention will be held in the North East of England from the 26th to 27^th of April, with a packed schedule of sessions and activities reflecting the boom in film, tv and digital production that’s underway across the UK.

The Creative Cities Convention (CCC) is a unique meeting place where content creators working outside London can network together and discuss the big media issues that affect them every day.

The event will take place at the Boiler Shop in Newcastle, less than five minutes’ walk from the central station and an iconic building that started life in the 1820s as the home of Robert Stephenson and Company, the world’s first locomotive works. This beautiful, listed building has ample room for the main conference of over 300 delegates along with meet-the-commissioner sessions and a marketplace for different organisations to showcase their activities, topped off with a lively evening networking party.

There will be student masterclasses and sessions in other parts of the wider North East too, where production is soaring as the region scales up to meet record investment from organisations like the BBC, local authorities and independent companies.

The CCC team will be working in partnership with North East Screen to deliver the conference and with the North of Tyne, South of Tyne and Tess Valley Combined Authorities, who have together formed the North East Screen Industries Partnership to rise to the challenge of growing production across all genres.

Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen says ‘We are delighted to welcome the Creative Cities Convention to our region at a time when production is increasing, partnerships are strengthening and growth in the sector is becoming a reality. To be hosting a convention of this scale and stature in the North East, which attracts content creators from all parts of the UK, is a real honour and an opportunity and we can’t wait to be involved and showcase the North East as a hotbed of creativity and talent.’

‘We could not be more thrilled to take our event to the North East in 2023,’ says conference director Ruth Pitt. ‘The screen sector is growing rapidly there, and the venue is accessible to content creators from right across the UK, whether you’re in Glasgow or Belfast, Manchester or Cardiff, Brighton or Bristol. We’re extending our sessions to offer even better takeout for everyone so it’s an event not to be missed’.

Last year’s conference was a sellout success at the Fazeley Studios in Birmingham, a return to normal after two years of pandemic disruption. This year the event will be extended to offer a full afternoon of sessions and a networking party on Day One and then another full day of debate and discussion on Day Two. BBC Newsnight journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Wark will return as host.

As the Creative Cities Convention celebrates its fifth birthday in 2023 there will be something of value for producers, freelances, broadcasters, streamers and students alike.

BBC Comedy announces brand new supercharged bursary and grant schemes

Posted on 19 December 202225 January 2023 by North East Screen

BBC Comedy today (Monday 19 December) announces two brand new opportunities for comedy talent as the BBC Comedy Collective and BBC Comedy Grants are launched.

The BBC Comedy Collective has been established as a supercharged bursary scheme which will continue to celebrate the work of writers, Felix Dexter, Caroline Aherne and Galton & Simpson, plus new producer and director representatives, Ash Atalla and Christine Gernon by offering 10 places to the next generation of writers, producers and directors who would like to develop their careers in scripted comedy.

BBC Comedy will be building on the great work that the individual writing bursaries have done to date, by bringing everyone together and adding in producers and directors to form this bursary supergroup of experience in a format that allows BBC Comedy to offer more opportunity, more places, more finance, more activity and more access to an instant network of comedy experts.

The BBC Comedy Collective comprises of estate representatives, Geoff Schuman & Paul Whitehouse (for Felix Dexter), Tessa La Bars and the Galton Family (for Galton & Simpson), Lucy Ansbro (for Caroline Aherne) plus the new producer and director representatives, Ash Atalla and Christine Gernon, alongside the alumni of previous BBC bursary winners.

This is not an entry level opportunity but will be open to anyone who has had at least one previous credit in writing, producing or directing in any genre, across any platform – such as radio, theatre, podcasts, stand up or commercials. Applicants will also need to be able to demonstrate a strong passion for and commitment to comedy.

Each bursary winner will receive up to £10,000 worth of paid shadowing on a BBC Comedy production, along with an allocated production mentor, plus a £5,000 development grant to put towards new material at the end of the placement. They will also have a dedicated point of contact within the BBC Comedy Commissioning team who will help guide them through their year, as well as access to the Comedy Collective representatives.

The bursary winners will have their expenses covered to attend up to three BBC comedy events over their year on the scheme. Events next year will include the BBC Comedy Festival taking place in Cardiff in May 2023, plus short film and networking evenings across the UK, with other events to be announced in due course.

Successful applicants will also receive exclusive access to bespoke training and personal development opportunities provided by the BBC Academy, plus access to BAFTA’s tailored programme of learning and career development activity for new entrants and emerging talent.

The BBC Comedy Collective will be working in partnership with BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Scotland and BBC Wales, with the support of BBC Writersroom, BBC History, BBC Academy, BAFTA and a range of screen agencies including North East Screen and Creative Wales. Within the 10 places, at least 1 will be guaranteed for an individual based in Scotland, 1 in Northern Ireland, 1 in Wales and 1 in Newcastle (the 2022 City of Comedy) and BBC Comedy will actively be encouraging applications from individuals from diverse and underrepresented groups.

BBC Comedy will be looking forward to welcoming the next generation of up-and-coming comedy talent from across the UK into the BBC Comedy Collective – Class of 23. Previous BBC Comedy bursary winners have gone on to win script commissions, get agents, produce radio shows and make a BAFTA award-winning TV series.

Alongside the bursary, also confirmed today is a brand-new BBC Comedy Grants scheme which is an opportunity to increase BBC Comedy’s engagement with companies, organisations and communities from across the UK who want to support growth and access opportunity in comedy. The grants are aimed at small organisations, groups, charities or projects which are doing targeted comedy outreach across the UK. The grants are not for individuals to develop a project, or production companies developing ideas, but exclusively for outreach and inclusion activity with comedy. There will be 10 grants of £5k available, and applications will open on Monday 9^th January.

Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC said: “BBC Comedy is renowned worldwide for finding and nurturing some of the most brilliant writers and performers working in television and film today. The BBC Comedy Collective is a commitment to help ensure this remains the case and cast the net wider to include off screen talent such as directors and producers, who are often the unsung heroes of our most cherished shows.”

Tessa Le Bars & the Galton family on behalf of Galton & Simpson said: “Galton & Simpson Estates are delighted to be part of the expanded BBC Comedy Collective now being offered from 2023, following on the great work started by the original Galton and Simpson Writers Bursary in 2020, This new suite of bursaries will provide a back to front coverage of comedy production and we hope will deliver some exciting new works next year and beyond to ensure the continuation of the great British sit-com genre started by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson way back in the 1950s.”

Geoff Schuman on behalf of Felix Dexter said “The BBC continues to be a fantastic creative partner in continuing the legacy of several famous comedians who have sadly passed away. They have been magnificent in their efforts to supporting the works of Felix Dexter and ensuring that his abilities will be remembered for generations. The BBC remains as one of the leading creative outlets for championing equality and diversity….Long may this continue.”

Paul Whitehouse on behalf of Felix Dexter said: “The BBC is the natural home of comedy along with much else in broadcasting. But certainly it is a “brand leader” in terms of comedy. So many shows that mean so much to us would not have been created without the beeb. It continues to develop and nurture new talent and one of the more novel ways is through the bursary system.”

Lucy Ansbro on behalf of Caroline Aherne: “Caroline Aherne’s Estate is honoured to stand alongside the powerhouse of creative talents that forms the new BBC Comedy Collective. The Corporation has always been front and centre when it comes to nurturing comedy talent from all walks of life and long may it continue. The Caroline Aherne Bursary was established by the BBC to foster a new generation of female performers in the North, so to be part of the expansion project means even more opportunity for those who reflect modern Britain to be heard.”

Ash Atalla said: “When the BBC asked me to be the producer representative, I laughed. What could a 6 times BAFTA winner be able to teach anyone? They talked me round and Im now genuinely delighted to part of the Comedy Top Gun Academy. I look forward to working with the best of the best”

Christine Gernon said: “The BBC is perhaps the greatest of our institutions and its history of nurturing and growing world class players is unrivalled. This scheme offers so much for the future of our industry and I’m delighted and honoured to be contributing. I owe my career to the BBC who recognised, trained and guided me so it’s a privilege to work alongside the BBC comedy team recognising, training and guiding the next generation of Comedy directors.”

Emma Lawson, Commissioning Editor, BBC Comedy and Initiative Lead said: “Having partaken in a scheme like this myself I know how important and transformative they are to people making their way in the industry. They are also incredibly important to us as broadcasters to make sure we have exciting pathways that allow us to forge relationships with the best up-and-coming comedy talent from around the country, to ensure we have the best people in our stable so we’re able to continue the BBC legacy of producing the best, globally renowned, comedy programming out there.”

More information on the scheme and how to apply will be available via https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/comedy/ and applications open on Monday 9^th January 2023.

Selection Process

Expect drama, tears and plenty of emotionally-fuelled moments as we gear up to see whether Scarlett Moffatt can finally pass her driving test – on the 14th attempt.

The popular screen sector conference Creative Cities Convention will be held in the North East of England from the 26th to 27th of April, with a packed schedule of sessions and activities reflecting the boom in film, tv and digital production that’s underway across the UK.

BBC Comedy today (Monday 19 December) announces two brand new opportunities for comedy talent as the BBC Comedy Collective and BBC Comedy Grants are launched.

The popular screen sector conference Creative Cities Convention will be held in the North East of England from the 26th to 27^th of April, with a packed schedule of sessions and activities reflecting the boom in film, tv and digital production that’s underway across the UK.