I pitched the idea for 32 Brinkburn Street in November 2009 as part of a brainstorming session in Newcastle held by the Writersroom.
Original authored TV Dramas are the most difficult commissions for newer writers to achieve. There are relatively few original TV Dramas commissioned each year by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, they are expensive to make and are often commissioned in partnership with other broadcasters outside the UK.
As the former Head of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writersroom explained on a blog post "The Commissioning Editors take pitches from the production companies, and make decisions on projects based on a combination of the idea, the writer and the company. They are assessed not just on the talent of the writer, but also the talent and track record of the people who will be responsible for making the show."
Find out about How We Commission on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Commissioning website
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ also broadcasts several long-running Continuing Dramas on television, including EastEnders, Casualty, Waterloo Road and River City. We have worked closely with all these shows, which are often the best way for writers to achieve their first television broadcast credit. Many writers who have gone on to create their own authored television dramas previously wrote on Continuing Drama shows.
Find out more about our work and successes in TV Drama
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32 Brinkburn Street
32 Brinkburn Streeet was a daytime TV drama created by Karen Laws following a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writersroom session in Newcastle. It was broadcast from 28th March - 1st April 2011 on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One with episodes written by Karen Laws and Alice Nutter. -
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Continuing Drama Directors' Training Scheme
The Continuing Drama New Director's Training Scheme, run by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writersroom with Directors' UK and ScreenSkills supported early career directors towards their first TV credit on one of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's continuing TV dramas (EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City, Doctors and from 2016 River City). In 2019 the scheme won a Creative Diversity Network Award for Best Partnership. -
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Continuing Drama Shadow Schemes
Between 2014 and 2018 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writersroom ran the shadow schemes for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Continuing Drama shows plus introductory courses to Continuing Drama. The shadow schemes gave writers the chance to be supported through the writing of an episode of their show as if it were for broadcast, with the aim that following the completion of a successful shadow script they would be offered an episode commission. -
The Break
The Break was Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writers' returning series of bold new short form drama on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three, written by up-and-coming diverse talent from across the UK. There were six series of The Break, with the latest released in October 2023. All six series are available to watch on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer. Find out more and meet the writers. -
From Darkness
Katie Baxendale's crime drama for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One was discovered through our Ladykillers crime-writing lab, specifically for women writers. -
In the Flesh
Dominic Mitchell's first TV credit was a result of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writersroom's 2009 Northern Voices scheme. In the Flesh ran for two series on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three in 2013 and 2014. Dominic Mitchell went on to win the BAFTA for Writer - Television Drama in 2014. -
Lost Boys and Fairies
Lost Boys and Fairies is writer Daf James' first original screenplay for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ with filming taking place in 2023. Daf developed the project with Duck Soup Films as part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writersroom’s TV Drama Writers’ Programme 2019 (now Pilot). The programme gives emerging screenwriters the opportunity to write the first episode of a new original series or serial in partnership with an indie. Daf had previously taken part in the first ever Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Writersroom Welsh Voices development group. Lost Boys and Fairies was broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and iPlayer in June 2024. Watch now on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer. -
Pilot
Pilot runs every two years and offers a script commission for the first episode of a potential Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama series or serial. Each writer is placed with an independent production company to support and develop their episode. This is not a scheme for new, untested writers or experienced writers with significant original television drama credits. Find out more.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Studios TalentWorks: Writers’ Studio: Soap, Writers’ Studio: Cosy Crime and The Writer Spotlight
As part of its industry leading training portfolio, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Studios TalentWorks provides training and development opportunities for emerging and established talent, bringing together, nurturing and championing the next generation of British storytellers.
Among the offering is a newly created The Writer Spotlight scheme, which works with drama writers and comedy performers, who have previously worked on commissioned series, to develop and harness their own ideas and IP through workshops, events and access to industry experts.
For new and developing writing talent, it offers the Writers Studio: Soap, and Writers Studio: Cosy Crime courses. These courses give new talent the opportunity to work in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Studios Drama Productions on major shows including EastEnders, Casualty, River City, Pobol y Cwm, Father Brown and Sister Boniface Mysteries and learn how to craft successful episodes.
to find out more about Writers’ Studio: Soap, Writers’ Studio: Cosy Crime and The Writer Spotlight.