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Natterbox moves into Gateshead’s PROTO creating a new Northern HQ

Posted on 3 November 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

Chatterbox, the acclaimed BAFTA-winning production company behind hit TV series Meet the Khans and Charlotte in Sunderland, has announced the establishment of a new Northern headquarters, known as Natterbox, in Gateshead.

The Brighton-based company has moved into offices in Gateshead’s state-of-the-art digital production facility, PROTO, alongside a host of other TV production and immersive technology companies, with plans to create 10 new job opportunities in the North East.

This move builds on the continued growth of the screen sector in the region following the formation of the public sector-led North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP) and the BBC’s commitment to commission a minimum of £25m programming spend over the next 5 years.

Operating as Natterbox, the team hopes to harness the unique potential and cultural richness of North East England, shining a spotlight on some of Britain’s most stunning landscapes and attracting new commissioning spend to the area.

Natterbox is also looking to foster local talent through the creation of new apprenticeships and training programmes, providing fresh routes into the television industry and empowering aspiring creatives in the North East to pursue their passion for production.

The female-led team regards diversity of thought as integral to its DNA and wants to nurture the next generation of creative talent through early career mentoring and guidance, creating jobs for local residents.

Natterbox was founded by former Channel 4 Factual Entertainment Commissioning Editor, Nav Raman, and experienced Director and Producer, Ali Quirk, whose credits include Gogglebox, Come Dine With Me, Lion Country, Sky Cops and Gold Rush.

Nav Raman, Founder and Executive Producer, Natterbox, said: “Our mission is to collaborate with the best creative talent in the country, both on and off screen, to produce bold, entertaining and compelling content for major platforms and broadcasters.

“Launching Natterbox in the North East will not only help us do that, it will allow us to join an exciting ecosystem of incredible businesses who are at the forefront of innovation in all aspects of screen entertainment.”

Natterbox brings an impressive track record of producing hit shows such as Meet the Khans, Extraordinary Portraits, Sally Lindsay’s Posh Weekends and of course, Charlotte in Sunderland.

BBC Three has just announced a second season of the hit show, which follows TV personality Charlotte Crosby, as she looks to settle down in North East England after making a name for herself with appearances on Geordie Shore, Celebrity Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.

The programme’s first season averaged 300,000 viewers (28 day/4Screen) and generated 448,000 engagements via social media with a combined total of 36m impressions.

Lisa Laws, Head of Talent and Business Development, North East Screen, said: “We’re delighted to see Natterbox invest in the North East and further strengthen the vibrant screen industry we have here in the region. Natterbox bring great expertise in unscripted TV and we look forward to working more closely with Nav, Ali and the team to provide further opportunities to regional crew and trainees.

“It’s an exciting time to invest in the North East with the launch of the North East Production Fund strengthening our Film Office support, which is already attracting major feature films and TV productions such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, The Red King and Vera; alongside the FulwellCain plans forging ahead to build one of Europe’s largest film studios, Crown Works Studios, in the North East creating over 8,000 jobs.”

Working closely with North East Screen and Gateshead Council, Invest Newcastle, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, supported the Chatterbox team with their move to the North East, helping to identify suitable premises for their new headquarters and showcasing the thriving digital cluster on both sides of the River Tyne.

Jennifer Hartley, Director, Invest Newcastle, said: “The screen industry is emerging as a significant driver of investment, place transformation and new opportunities in our region, which should give confidence to Nav and Ali that they are establishing their new headquarters in the right place.

“It’s been a pleasure working with the Natterbox team on securing their move to the North East and we look forward to helping them take advantage of the fantastic creative talent on offer.”

Cllr Malcolm Brain, Cabinet Member for Economy, Gateshead Council, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Natterbox to Gateshead, they join a thriving hub of creatives who work within all aspects of the screen industry.

“Over the years we’ve invested into the screen industry with our facilities at PROTO, behind the four walls of the ‘black box’ there is a wealth of innovative technology which assists with the production of programmes and films.

“Combine the technology with a friendly North East welcome and the continued commitments from the BBC and Channel 4, I am sure we will see continued investment of other media companies to the borough.”

Channel 4 ‘In Too Deep’ Digital Development Initiative

Posted on 27 October 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

Channel 4, in collaboration with North East Screen, has launched a new digital commissioning opportunity for production companies and creatives in the North East to create a hard-hitting piece for their ‘In Too Deep’ Documentary strand.

The Channel 4 Digital Commissioning team are on the hunt for brilliant youth-focused ideas. They are dedicated to reaching young audiences in the digital space so your ideas should authentically speak to young people across the UK and be social native.

‘In Too Deep’ is a doc strand where brave young journalists delve into a world, expose something and experience it first-hand for the audience. The films should be high-octane and immersive and will see a rotating roster of (sometimes undercover) journalists get closer to the action than ever before: scammers, con artists, criminals, pyramid schemes, nothing is off limits.

Click this link to watch the first ‘In Too Deep’ documentary (TW // Sexual Violence).

‘Exposing from the inside’ is a phrase to keep in mind. They are looking for pieces that take them into hidden and dark youth culture by shining a light behind the scenes. What is the darker side of big topics that interest young people? You tell us, but more importantly, show us!

These films are circa 15-20 mins each. Digital Original commissioning tariffs are between 1-3k per min and the budget will depend on the scale and ambition of your submitted projects.

Don’t be afraid to pitch ideas that you think just couldn’t be made, because Channel 4 believe there is always a way!

The deadline to send in your pitches is the 9th of November.

Send your pitches to digitalcommissioning@channel4.co.uk

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please email talent@northeastscreen.org

Check out the video below to learn more.

Screen Alliance North makes two key appointments to take forward plans to build screen industry skills across the North of England

Posted on 24 October 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

The new skills partnership created by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire, and supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, has appointed a Skills Cluster Partnership Lead and a Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager.

In April 2023, Screen Alliance North was selected as the BFI Skills Cluster for the North of England and awarded £2.3m of BFI National Lottery funding to make the screen sector more accessible and representative and to build a thriving and skilled workforce across the North of England.

The funding is enabling the Alliance to work collaboratively with local industry, education and training providers to develop clearer pathways to long-term employment in film and TV production.

Working closely with all four screen agencies, Penny Hall, the new Skills Cluster Partnership Lead will support the development and delivery of an events programme and help to identify industry investment for priority activities. She will build key partnerships with screen industry employers and manage an advisory group to champion the Alliance’s vision of making the industry more sustainable and improving good working practice.

Penny, who previously worked at Into Film, the UK’s leading charity for film in education said;“I am delighted to work with the new partnership at such a crucial time for the screen industry in the North. There are many opportunities opening up for screen industry professionals and we want to build the skills base in the North quickly to fulfil the growing demand from production. Bridging the gap from training to industry is vital, as is ensuring the industry is more accessible than ever before.”

Cassandra White fills the position of Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager and has a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Cassandra will be responsible for evaluating the wide range of activities delivered by Screen Alliance North, capturing data, tracking participant engagement and compiling case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of the work.

“I’ve had first hand experience of the challenges and hurdles of finding work in the industry,” said Cassandra, who looked to get into script editing at the start of her career. “I will be using my writing skills and vast experience in the charity sector to highlight the successes of the programme telling the stories of the people we support and inspiring the next generation of TV and film industry professionals.”

Caroline Cooper Charles, Chief Executive of Screen Yorkshire added;
“The two appointments are crucial in establishing our partnership and driving our vision forward. Penny and Cassandra have the passion, motivation and experience to support, co-ordinate and champion skills activity across our combined area.

We know we have the talent and ambition in the North of England and we want to open the door to the industry providing career opportunities for many from whatever background and walk of life. We are excited for what Screen Alliance North can achieve.”

Cassandra White, Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution picks up Sea and Sky Pictures produced horror ‘Lore’

Posted on 19 October 202319 October 2023 by North East Screen

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution has acquired worldwide sales rights to Scottish-set horror Lore, following the film’s world premiere at the UK’s FrightFest earlier this year.

Kaleidoscope acquired the film from producers Sea and Sky Pictures, and will present it to buyers at next month’s American Film Market. It will also distribute it in the UK through its distribution arm Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment in 2024.

Lore was directed by James Bushe, Patrick Ryder and Greig Johnson, and written by the trio with Christine Barber-Ryder. It follows four scare-loving friends who book a horror-themed camping excursion in Scotland; who release forms of malevolence when telling stories by the campfire.

Richard Brake, Andrew Lee Potts, Bill Fellows and Rufus Hound lead the cast. Adam Bouabda of Sea and Sky Pictures described the film as “a horror anthology with a little something for everyone”, while Kaleidoscope CEO Spencer Pollard called it “an excellent genre film”.

Channel 4 and North East Screen Industries Partnership collaborate to help build the production sector in the North East

Posted on 12 October 202312 October 2023 by North East Screen

Channel 4 and the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP) have signed up to a collaboration to help build the production sector and develop talent in the North East.

Working closely with North East Screen and other partners across the region this collaboration will:

● enable better opportunities for the production community to engage with Channel 4 and forge strong creative relationships
● include specific commissioning and development initiatives to develop the production capability in the region and
● provide bespoke training and skills support to tackle skills gaps and open up creative careers to a wider range of people.

The overall aim of the agreement is to support the growth of independent production in the North East building the potential for more commissions from the region and enabling more careers in TV production.

Sinead Rocks, Managing Director Nations & Regions Channel 4, said: “As part of 4 All the UK we have regularly focused the different resources and initiatives on specific areas to help grow the production capacity. We know that there is enormous potential for the screen industries in the North East, and this collaboration with NESIP should provide tangible value and have real impact to help realise that potential.”

Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen, said: “This is an exciting statement of intent from Channel 4 to work closely with us and NESIP to provide more opportunities for our regional based indies, talent and crew. Channel 4 are a great broadcaster doing some really interesting work developing content and engaging audiences across linear and digital platforms.”

Channel 4 will build on its greater Nations and Regions presence to forge stronger and closer relationships in the North East. As part of this plan, there will be a range of activities geared towards supporting talent from across the region, including established to medium and smaller indies, freelance talent in TV and Film production, and those looking to launch their careers.

The first example of this will be a Channel 4 ‘Open Day’, a mix of virtual sessions and in-person activities for indies, freelancers and other stakeholders to find out more about the channel, meet commissioners and build relationships. This will take place on Wednesday 25^th October in Darlington.

Channel 4’s model is built around our unique relationship with independent production companies. There are already a range of schemes and interventions to support indies, especially those that are smaller and medium sized. Two North East indies (Sea and Sky Pictures and Motif Pictures) have already taken part in Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund. Channel 4 will continue to encourage and support applications from indies in the North East, including running individual and group workshops and surgeries.

Channel 4 and NESIP will work jointly to ensure that future opportunities, schemes and productions fund are shared across our collective networks in the region.

This collaboration will also involve bespoke development opportunities. To begin this work Channel 4 and NESIP have agreed to match-fund a development opportunity in the region for their new In Too Deep digital factual strand. This will be led by the digital commissioning team which is keen to commission a number of developments from the North East, either from indies directly or by pairing talent with indies in the region.

Funding is jointly provided by Channel 4 and NESIP. This will be a unique opportunity for talent and indies looking to work in the factual online space. Digital commissioners will take part in the North East Open Day on the 25^th October in Darlington to talk about this in more detail.

Alongside this work, there will be a major focus on training and skills. Channel 4 will look to support talent across all career stages through 4Skills – from inspiring young people, supporting early-stage writers to hone their skills, to progressing industry professionals in skills such as ideas development, pitching and business skills.

The North East has already been a priority area for 4Skills.

4Schools – Channel 4’s school engagement programme designed to encourage 11–16-year-olds to explore a career in the creative industry. Since 4Schools launched in 2022, it has engaged with 22 schools in the north east, and worked with 11,000 students in the region, with a particular focus on schools with higher percentage of free school meals. 4Schools will continue to prioritise the North East and engage with the regional and local authorities to ensure schools are aware of the opportunity.

Channel 4 will also build on its existing partnership with New Writing North (based at Northumbria University) to support emerging writers in developing their writing skills and providing career advice.

In addition to what is already underway, Channel 4 will develop and deliver new training initiatives that are designed to support the growth of skills in the region. The National Film and Television School will run a two-day careers roadshow in mid-October covering both scripted and unscripted roles. In 2024, Channel 4 and North East Screen will explore training that accelerates business development, covering leadership and management skills, as well as investment and distribution, along with other bespoke training requirements.

Finally, this collaboration will formalise the already strong working relationship between Channel 4 and North East Screen who will meet on a quarterly basis. In addition, Channel 4 will attend the already established NESIP Workforce Skills and Development Group which includes regional further and higher education bodies and representatives from Employment and Skills teams in each local authority.

Durham-based filmmaker selected for BFI London Film Festival Works-in-Progress showcase

Posted on 10 October 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

Harder Than The Rock, a music documentary from North East filmmaker Mark Warmington, is one of only five projects selected to take part in the BFI London Film Festival (LFF) Work-In-Progress showcase.

The music documentary tells the story of the UK’s first reggae band, Cimarons, and follows the band in their old age as they battle to keep the Cimarons dream alive and play to live audiences again, one last time. By diving into the historical and social context that connects Ireland and Jamaica, Harder Than The Rock explores the relationship between the Irish diaspora and the Windrush generation who lived alongside each other and faced similar prejudice in London, features interviews with all of the surviving band members, a live performance of their classic hits from the 1970s and exclusive archival footage from an incredible tour.

The in-person event took place on October 7 as part of the festival’s UK Talent Days focus, in partnership with the British Council, at London’s Picturehouse Central.

The event screened extracts from each project, with an introduction from its filmmaker to an invited audience of international buyers as well as UK sales agents and festival programmers, followed by a networking event. Clips from the films will be available online for a week from October 7 via a secure platform to an invited pool of international industry professionals. All projects are still in production, or in post, from filmmakers at debut or second feature stage.

Laura Purvis, Talent and Business Development Manager at North East Screen said: “It’s great to see Mark’s hard work and brilliant ideas paying off regionally and nationally. He is definitely a one to watch!”

Other films selected for the BFI LFF Works-in-Progress showcase include The Ceremony, dir-scr. Jack King; Low Rider, dir-scr. Campbell X; Smoking Shoes, dir. David Warwick; and A Winter’s Journey, dir-scr. Alex Helfrecht.

Jackdaw debuts with 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Posted on 6 October 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

Jackdaw, the feature-length writing and directorial debut from North East filmmaker, Jamie Childs, which received support from the North East Production Fund, has debuted with 100% on the popular review site Rotten Tomatoes. following its worldwide premiere at Fantastic Fest.

Set in Hartlepool over the course of a single night, the crime drama follows a former motocross champion and army veteran (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) as he searches for his kidnapped brother.

The film stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Invisible Man, The Haunting of Hill House) as the title character, with other household names including Jenna Coleman – known for her work in Doctor Who, The Sandman and Victoria – This is England star Thomas Turgoose and Game of Thrones star Rory McCann.

It has seen a £300,000 investment from the North East Production Fund, delivered by regional screen agency North East Screen on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), as part of their ambitious plans to make the region one of the UK’s leading film and TV production hubs.

Production of the film took place in the Tees Valley area and wrapped at the beginning of this year.

Since its debut at Fantastic Fest in Texas last month, the film has been receiving positive reviews with critics praising the cinematography and nuanced performance from the film’s cast.

The film was also the first feature to make use of the newly opened The Northern Studios in Hartlepool, currently the North East’s only large-scale film and TV studios.

Gayle Woodruffe, Operations Director for North East Screen, who manages the North East Production Fund, said: “Piloting JACKDAW through the North East Production Fund was an easy decision, it allowed us to not only support exceptional North East homegrown talent, but also showcase the North East in a different light for the big screen.

“We have world class talent, world class crew and world class locations here in the North East, and all of these are showcased in JACKDAW – a testament to the work we are doing to build on the growing screen industry in the region.”

To mark the film’s release in UK cinemas by Vertigo Releasing, a glittering star-studded premiere will take place in Tees Valley before a series of local screenings ahead of its release.

Watch the trailer for Jackdaw below

The BBC Small Indie Fund 2023 is now open for applications

Posted on 5 October 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

The BBC has announced the launch of its £1 million BBC Small Indie Fund 2024 to support a range of UK Indies, from start-up companies to more established Indies with ambitious growth plans.

The 2023 Small Indie Fund cohort included six North East production companies: Candle & Bell (Gateshead), MCC Media Limited (Sunderland), Middlechild Productions (Newcastle), Schnoobert Productions (Newcastle), Sea & Sky Pictures (Hartlepool) and Twenty Six 03 Entertainment (Gateshead). Hopefully the 2024 cohort will see more upcoming North East production companies named.

On the success of the North East companies in the 2023 cohort, North East Screen’s Head of Talent and Development, Lisa Laws said: “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.”

The fund, which has been running since 2020, backs talented small independent production companies with turnovers of less than £10million across factual, daytime, drama, comedy, entertainment and children’s TV genres, prioritising diverse-led companies and those based in the Nations and English regions. It is granted to companies based on the strength of their creative potential and aims to support growth and deliver sustainability within the company. Successful companies receive tailored support packages to help their development along with commissioning mentors from the BBC.

Any North East-based company looking to apply for the Small Indie Fund is invited to contact the talent and business development team at North East Screen for an informal chat about applying and continued company development by emailing talent@northeastscreen.org

More information on the BBC Small Indie Fund can be found on the BBC website.

Channel 4 opens Emerging Indie Fund for 2023 applications

Posted on 28 September 202328 September 2023 by North East Screen

Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund, which aims to help indies in the nations and regions grow their business, has opened for a new round of applications.

The Emerging Indie Fund 2023 provides practical support and opportunities for indies to help them scale their business through a combination of commissioner support, funding and training.

Selected indies will have a direct relationship with a commissioning editor within their chosen genre who will meet with the indie on a regular basis to discuss their slate. They will also meet regularly with Channel 4’s head of indie relations Rebecca Thompson, who will advise them on working with Channel 4 and growing their company.

Production companies will also benefit from online sessions with key departments within the channel, such as finance, corporate affairs and scheduling, to get a unique insight into Channel 4.

Thompson said: “Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund has a proven to be an incredibly effective mechanism for helping indies grow their companies and establish themselves as production partners. It’s vital that we continue to nurture emerging indie talent and help support the production sector in the nations and regions.”

Two production companies, Hill 5.14 Media and Motif Pictures, were supported by the Emerging Indie Fund in 2022.

Co-founder and managing director at Newcastle’s Motif Pictures, James Craggs, said: “I believe that the Emerging Indie Fund was a game changing experience for us as we develop and build our company.”

“It gave us vital insight into how a leading broadcaster goes about business. From there, it also allowed us to develop a relationship with a knowledgeable and experienced commissioner who gave us universal guidance, not just aimed towards what Channel 4 needs or wants so it’s improved us as a business, how we will approach our evolution and also how we develop and pitch ideas.”

The Emerging Indie Fund combines slate development funding with ongoing support from Channel 4. The funding can be used to bolster the indie’s development team with additional staff roles or consultants, or for other costs relating to the effective development of their slate.

Eligible indies may already have a track record with Channel 4 and should have a slate of ideas to discuss with a commissioner. The Emerging Indie Fund is seeking ideas that feature distinct voices and stories that are aligned with Channel 4’s editorial priorities and Future4 strategy. https://www.channel4.com/commissioning/future4-strategy

Applicants must also meet all of the following criteria:

Primary office and more than 50% of key creative decision-makers based in the Nations and Regions
A true indie in which no one broadcaster holds more than 25% of its shareholding
Turnover must be below £6m according to the latest set of accounts
Has a slate of content in development suitable for Channel 4
Evidence of a previous TV, film or digital production credit
No more than one previous Channel 4 linear series commissioned or recommissioned
No previous participation in the Emerging Indie Fund as a main awardee

Applications should be made through the online application form and the deadline for is 9am on Monday 19th October 2023. Further detailed information about the commissioning priorities of a specific genre is available on the 4Producers site.

Channel 4 announces support for three northern writers at New Writing North awards co-hosted by North East Screen

Posted on 22 September 202322 September 2023 by North East Screen

Three emerging screenwriters from the North of England have been awarded Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards 2023 to support their development.

Each of the writers wins a £3000 bursary and a package of money-can’t-buy opportunities, including nine-month placements with independent production companies where they will develop original scripts, and mentoring with industry professionals.

The Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards were founded in 2014 as part of the Northern Writers’ Awards. They are funded by Channel 4 and produced by New Writing North, the writing development agency for the North of England. The Northern Writers’ Awards are England’s largest and longest-running writer development programme, supported by Northumbria University, Arts Council England and a range of partners.

The 2023 winners were announced on Thursday evening (21 September) at The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle, at a celebration hosted with North East Screen, the North East’s regional screen agency which develops and nurtures homegrown talent including writers, producers and directors. The event was attended by writers and industry professionals from television and audio, and included a showcase of new writing talent from across the North.

Harriet Ghost, an actor-writer from Newcastle, will receive a nine-month programme of mentoring and support from the Leeds-based production company, Rollem Productions (The Syndicate; Fat Friends). Harriet trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and her acting credits include Ken Loach and ITV projects. She has written for the stage and in 2020 was selected for BFI’s Script Lab and received mentoring from Aisling Bea through the BAFTA Connects scheme supporting women in TV and film.

Joe McNally is a writer from Liverpool whose debut play ‘Cosmic’ was staged at Liverpool’s Royal Court theatre in April 2023. Joe holds a Masters in Screenwriting and is a graduate of both Liverpool’s Royal Court Stage Write Development Programme and Liverpool Everyman’s YEP writers’ programme. His award includes a nine-month placement with Bonafide Films (Mood; The Last Post), where he will develop an original script.

Liz Redwood, from Southport, won the Channel 4 Writing for Television Award: Lime Pictures. She will spend her placement on the production of Hollyoaks, where she will work with members of the core writing team and shadow the script development process.Liz has completed the Liverpool Royal Court’s Playwright Programme and the Liverpool Everyman’s Playwrights’ Programme. In 2020 she was shortlisted for the Kenneth Brannagh New Drama Award at the Windsor Fringe Festival and the Sphinx Theatre programme for female playwrights. Her first professional production, ‘A Tipsy Christmas Fairy Tale’, was staged by Liverpool Royal Court in 2022.

Harriet, Joe and Liz join a growing list of television writers supported by Channel 4 and New Writing North. Previous winners include Sharma Walfall, who won the inaugural award in 2015 and has gone on to write for productions including Dreamland, Noughts and Crosses and A Town Called Malice, and Jayshree Patel, whose award led to her becoming a core writer on Hollyoaks before recently moving to EastEnders. The programme has also launched the television writing careers of Taiba Ahmad, Adam Bennett-Lea, Joshua Halm, Kemi-Bo Jacobs and Samantha Neale.

The Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards form part of Channel 4 and New Writing North’s Talent Development Partnership, which offers year-round support and opportunities for new writers from the North, with a particular focus on supporting writers from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in the television industry. Alongside the awards and industry placements, it offers script development, writers’ roadshows and workshops, and the formation of the Northern Talent Network.

Channel 4’s Head of Drama Caroline Hollick said: “Nurturing the next generation of talent is a key priority for Channel 4, particularly in the north, which is why we are so committed to these awards. We want to ensure that anyone who is determined to work in the creative industries has an opportunity to fulfil that ambition, regardless of their background or where they live.”

Will Mackie, Senior Programme Manager (Talent Development) at New Writing North, said: “Our flagship awards programme for screenwriters continues to grow and thrive through Channel 4’s generous ongoing support. The Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards give us the chance to identify and support three immensely gifted and exciting emerging writers. These awards offer genuine career-changing experiences and it’s enormously fulfilling for us to play a part in nurturing and celebrating new talent. So much of the success of this programme is down to the dedication and innovation of our brilliant production company partners — Rollem, Bonafide and Lime – who open doors into the world of TV for writers in the North.”

Lisa Laws, Head of Talent and Development at North East Screen said: “Huge congratulations to Harriet, Joe and Liz on winning these awards. All three are incredibly talented individuals, and in particular, we are very proud to see Harriet, a North East writer, on stage being presented with an award.

“New Writing North do incredible work nurturing writing talent across the north, and we are delighted to be co-hosting this event giving new talent the space to explore and have fun writing for screen.

“We have lots of exciting plans in the pipeline with Channel 4 to offer even more opportunities to develop talent, content and companies in the North East that we can’t wait to share!”