Bad Wolf Launches Writer Development Program

Industry, Doctor Who and His Dark Materials producer Bad Wolf has rolled out the Blaidd Writers Programme, a new development scheme for Welsh screenwriters.

In association with Screen Alliance Wales, Bad Wolf has created the rolling six-month paid development and training initiative to find the next generation of Welsh drama writers. Screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies, playwright Jack Thorne and TV writer Marnie Dickens have been confirmed as mentors.

The scheme will see three writers develop with Bad Wolf an original, contemporary, Welsh-set returning drama and take part in masterclasses with industry professionals.

Writers will start their placements in January 2025 at the SAW classroom at Bad Wolf’s Cardiff HQ, Wolf Studios Wales, where they will begin work with Bad Wolf on the development of an idea from pitch to broadcast-ready script. They will be allocated individual script editors and producers to help support through the development process and will also receive regular guidance and feedback from Bad Wolf CEO Jane Tranter and Dan McCulloch, director of content.

Each writer will be paid a bursary of £18,000 to develop their script and a treatment, with travel, accommodation and other expenses covered by Bad Wolf.

Tranter said: “Wales has been the beating heart of Bad Wolf for the past decade. It is pivotal to our future, and the future of the Welsh TV industry, that we continue to nurture future generations of screenwriters. With the guidance of our industry mentors, as well Bad Wolf executive producers and script editors, our Blaidd Writers will not only develop their scripts but get a wider overview of the TV industry and production process. Together with the support of Screen Alliance Wales, as well as that of Jack, Marnie and Russell, I am hugely excited about discovering the next generation of Welsh voices.”

Davies commented: “I’m delighted to help mentor the next generation of writing talent in Wales, alongside Bad Wolf.”

Thorne added: “I’m half Welsh and at least part writer, and I love this scheme because it involves supporting writers—with money—as they grow. The industry is in a funny place right now, but we do need to back young talent, otherwise we’ll starve ourselves of the future. My interest is in developing disabled voices because that’s a sector I still think is underrepresented, so that’s who I’ll work with on this. As someone who’s basically lived with the producers and wonderful script editors at Bad Wolf, I know they’ll get the best out of them, and I’ll try to help too.”

Dickens said: “I’m chuffed to be part of such a well thought out and properly funded scheme to amplify the voices of Welsh writers.”