ITV Academy\u2019s writing initiative Original Voices, giving applicants from underrepresented groups the opportunity to work on the U.K.\u2019s biggest soap operas, has opened applications for its next program.<\/p>\n
Previously, the initiative alternated between soap operas, but the upcoming program will offer placements across both Emmerdale<\/em> and Coronation Street<\/em>. For 12 weeks, two placements will be housed at each production.<\/p>\n Candidates will experience the full story-to-script process of two of the most successful U.K. projects. Successful participants will be mentored by one of the shows\u2019 current writers and be given the chance to write a shadow script, commissioned at the same time as the current writers\u2019 script. They will also receive 12 months of mentoring following the initiative.<\/p>\n Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, including people of color and deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people, are able to apply now through September 24. Placements are set to begin in February 2024.<\/p>\n David Proud, who secured a permanent role on Coronation Street<\/em> after participating in the initiative, said: \u201cFor a writer, Original Voices is the best career opportunity you could ever apply for. It gives people hands-on experience at the heart of ITV Studios\u2019 Continuing Drama, and you become a fully valued part of the writing team. It changed my life, and now I try to honor that original voice in the episodes I write. If you have something unique to say, then apply, as you might end up getting to say it in our writer\u2019s room!\u201d<\/p>\n John Whiston, managing director of Continuing Drama at ITV Studios, added: \u201cOriginal Voices has opened up doors and given invaluable real-time experience to aspiring writers, some of whom go on to become regular writers on ITV\u2019s most iconic soaps, Coronation Street<\/em> and Emmerdale<\/em>. This initiative gives fantastic opportunities to new diverse talent so they can sit at the table, have a voice in the room and be a part of key creative conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ITV Academy\u2019s writing initiative Original Voices, giving applicants from underrepresented groups the opportunity to work on the U.K.\u2019s biggest soap operas, has opened applications for its next program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1412,"featured_media":19092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[1059,7381,1304,321,7382,119,7383,7384],"class_list":["post-19091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","tag-coronation-street","tag-david-proud","tag-emmerdale","tag-itv","tag-itv-academy","tag-itv-studios","tag-john-whiston","tag-original-voices","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n