Channel 4 Writing for TV Award Winners Announced

The winners of the Channel 4 Writing for TV Awards 2026 were revealed at an event last night (22 October), at Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne.

The awards provide emerging television writers in the North of England with unique professional opportunities to propel their careers forwards. The four winners will receive mentoring, a £3,000 cash bursary, a long-term placement with a leading production company, and a series of peer networking sessions. The programme is funded by Channel 4’s training and development initiative, 4Skills.

The winners are as follows:

Lucie Brownlee, a Geordie writer based in the Tees Valley, who will have a placement with Merman which produced Catastrophe, Motherland, Amandaland, Bad Sisters and YOUTH.

Lucie said: “As a Geordie writer, it means a huge amount to have this level of industry backing.”

Faye Dorn, Head of Scripted, Merman, “We’re thrilled to be involved with this award and to have the opportunity, alongside Channel 4 and New Writing North, to support the careers of North of England writers. We’re delighted to be working with the talented Lucie Brownlee.”

Soph Galustian, a Mancunian comedy writer-performer of Armenian heritage, who will have a placement with Hat Trick, which produced Derry Girls and Smoggie Queens.   

Soph said: “Coming from a working-class background, opportunities like this can genuinely change the trajectory of a career.”

Nic Coupe, Development Producer (Scripted) from Hat Trick said: “Hat Trick have always been passionate about championing new writing and new writers, and we were absolutely spoilt for choice with this shortlist.  We can’t wait to get to work developing Soph’s distinctive, funny, and characterful world.”

Joe Griffith, a freelance story producer and writer from Liverpool, who will have a placement with FilmNation TV UK, which produced Small Town, Big Story, I Know This Much Is True, and The House of the Spirits. 

Joe said: “I’m thrilled that FilmNation, Channel 4 and New Writing North saw something in that script and I’m so excited to be developing my project with them.”

Adam Woodhall, Development Producer, FilmNation TV UK said: “The quality of writing this year made the judging process an unenviable one which is testament to how much untapped regional talent is out there, and to the great work New Writing North and others are doing to platform their stories. We’re delighted to be taking part again this year, and excited to be working with Joe who has a distinct body of work this side of the fence as a script editor and story producer, and whose writing sample and attitude really impressed us.”

Lauren-Nicole Mayes is a Blackpool-born, working-class writer, who will have a placement with Warp Films, which produced Adolescence, Little Birds, and This is England ’90. 

Lauren-Nicole said: “Creating salty worlds with salty characters is something I want to do for the rest of my life. So, to win an award that celebrates bold storytelling and distinctive voices is a real career moment for me.”

Siobhan Morgan, Executive Producer, Head of Development, Warp Films, said: “‘At Warp, we are all incredibly proud of our reputation for supporting regional voices and emerging, working-class talent, both on and off screen. We are so pleased to be able to work with New Writing North and Channel 4, who share the same passions, to support and mentor Lauren through this next stage of her writing career. Lauren is a Warp voice through and through and we are excited to see where their talent takes them.”

Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships & Skills at Channel 4, said: “The Channel 4 Writing for TV Awards are all about finding and backing exceptional new writing talent from across the North of England. Through 4Skills, we’re committed to helping break down barriers to the industry and creating opportunities for talented people from a wide range of backgrounds. We’re delighted to be working with New Writing North and our production partners to support these writers at such an important stage in their careers, and we look forward to seeing where their talent takes them next.”

The awards are part of the Northern Writers’ Awards, which is New Writing North’s flagship writer development programme. They also form part of Channel 4 and New Writing North’s Talent Development Partnership which includes a new Screen Development Slate.

The Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards were established in 2014 to offer new television writers based in the North of England unique professional opportunities.