Now in its sixteenth year, Channel 4 today announces the twelve talented writers who have won coveted places on the drama screenwriting course, 4Screenwriting. From over 2700 scripts entered, Channel 4 pairs an aspiring writer with an experienced script editor and works with them on a series or serial pilot script over a five-month period. This includes motivational, creative and practical advice to kick-start their careers, with two weekends of talks and feedback from high-profile writers, producers, directors and from members of the Channel 4 commissioning team.
Previous 4Screenwriting alumni have gone forward to write on multiple Channel 4 drama shows including Hollyoaks, Ackley Bridge, On the Edge, Screw, Truelove, Queenie, The Light in the Hall with several of the recent course projects in active development with Channel 4 drama. Others are now writers with their own authored shows, writers on established series going into production or in major writers’ rooms with ITV, BBC, Channel 5, Sky, Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV and Disney+.
Recent alumni from the course who have created and written their own network shows include:
This year, the twelve writers who were selected and have completed the course are:
A further eleven writers were also recognised. As part of the scheme, they were partnered and mentored by someone working within the industry:
Guest speakers on this year’s course have included Maria Odufuye (script editor Sex Education, Supacell etc) , Shaunna O’Brien (script editor The Split), Ed Cripps (development producer, Neal Street productions), Inez Gordon (producer We Might Regret This), Eleanor Dawson (WGGB), Ben Wadey (executive producer Eastenders) Ailbhe Keogan (writer Trespasses), Daisy Haggard (writer Maya, C4), Rhys Bevan (writer), Imogen Greenberg (development producer at AC Chapter One), Thara Popoola (writer Sex Education, Queenie, Dreaming Whist Black), Kate Leys (Churchill, Benjamin), Hilary Norrish (Top Boy, Little Birds), Jessica Stewart (literary agent at Independent Talent), alongside Louise Donald, commissioning executive from Channel 4 drama.
This year, the course script editors are Beth Aynsley, Harriet Davis, Seth Jordan and Philip Shelley. Alongside this, the course also trains four script editors who are Ayaz Ali, Karen Featherstone, Lucy Haig and Christi Richardson.
Louise Donald, Channel 4 Drama Commissioning Executive, says: “Under Philip Shelley’s expert guidance, 4Screenwriting continues to be a brilliant launchpad for bold new writing talent. The standard of this year’s cohort has been incredibly exciting and we can’t wait to see where their voices, ideas and ambition take them next.”
The 4Screenwriting course is open to applicants without a screenwriting credit and provides the opportunity to work with a dedicated script editor to write an original script.
The course is run for Channel 4 by Philip Shelley who also runs his own Script Consultancy Service and the Greenlight Screenwriting Lab in Ireland.
Entries for the 2027 4Screenwriting course will be open in September.
ENDS
Maisie Adam and Joel Dommett embark on a summer adventure in new Channel 4 series with Boots
Taskmaster announces series 22 line-up
Channel 4 Sales secures Simba as inaugural sponsor of Weekends on Channel 4
Channel 4 Sales awards TV advertising airtime to five more sustainable businesses as it announces the winners of its B Corp competition