“Devon has a wealth of stories and storytellers, we’d love to discover more writers from the region” says Head of New Writing for BBC Writers and BBC Drama Commissioning

Open Call is an annual opportunity from BBC Writers accepting scripts from any writer based in the UK or Republic of Ireland aged 18 or over – and it is now open for submissions.

Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing for BBC Writers and BBC Drama Commissioning shared with Film Devon “We know that brilliant writing talent exists right across the UK, and we’re particularly keen to hear from writers whose voices, perspectives and experiences we might not otherwise encounter.

You don’t need to live in London, have an agent or know anyone in the industry to get your work noticed.

What matters to us here at BBC Writers is the quality of your writing, the originality of your ideas and your ability to tell a compelling story. Devon has a wealth of stories and storytellers, and we’d love to discover more writers from the region.”

Your script must be over 30 pages long (excluding title/character pages) and under 130 pages long and can be for TV, Film, Stage, or Radio, It must be either a drama or a comedy-drama but they can’t accept sit-coms.

BBC Writers have shared their top tips for submitting work.

BBC Writers Top Tips:

1. Find your voice – We’re looking for writers with something distinctive to say. Don’t try to second-guess what you think the BBC wants. Tell the story that only you can tell.
2. Make those opening pages count – Draw us into your story right from the outset. Introduce compelling characters, establish your world and give us a reason to keep turning the pages.
3. Put character at the heart of your story – Great storytelling begins with compelling characters. Think about what they want, what’s standing in their way and why we should care about their journey.
4. Be bold and authentic – Don’t be afraid to take creative risks, explore unfamiliar perspectives or draw on your own experiences. We’re interested in originality, not simply polished versions of stories we’ve seen before.
5. Give your script a final polish – Give it a good proofread, read it out loud if it helps, seek feedback from people you trust and make sure you’re submitting the strongest version of your work. And do check the eligibility criteria and submission guidelines carefully!

Most importantly, don’t rule yourself out! Every established screenwriter started somewhere, and the Open Call is an opportunity to get your writing in front of people who are genuinely excited about discovering new voices.

Scripts will be read anonymously i.e. without a name attached, until after the full-read stage so ensure you remove any personal details (name, address, contacts etc) from the front page of the script or within the document itself. Any scripts which still have a name or contact details on will be disqualified.

If submitting an episode of a TV show you have written, only include one full episode as your submission.

Jess added “If you’ve got a story that you’re passionate about telling, we’d encourage you to take that next step and submit your script. We look forward to reading your work!”

Successful submissions from the shortlisted group of writers selected will then be offered various opportunities by BBC Writers, including their Scripted and Voices talent development programs.

The deadline for submitting is Tuesday 1 December 2026 at 12 noon. Full details for the Open Call, including the terms and conditions of entry and how to submit are on the BBC Writers website now.  And if you submit a script, let us know!