Applications for the 2026 Channel 4 Screenwriting Course open on 22nd September, 2025!

 

How it works

A series of lectures from high-profile writers, producers and directors. The expertise and guidance of your own script editor. Workshops with other leading industry professionals. These are the tools at your disposal. 

The purpose of the course is to offer 12 writers new to television drama an insight into how the industry works and to provide a “dry-run” of what it can be like to write under a television drama commission, specifically for one hour series and serial drama, and to work with them as they write an original drama script.

Writers will be expected to write an original C4 / E4 one-hour drama series or serial pilot episode, and 2-3 page outline / pitch for the series / serial as a whole.

Each writer will be assigned a script editor, who is currently working in the industry, to guide them through this process. Writers will meet at least twice with their script editor and should complete a 2nd draft script before the 2nd weekend of the course. Completed, 2nd draft scripts will be sent to the script editor and two other writers on the course, for workshop discussions at the second weekend.

There will be two key weekends in the course. Writers must ensure before entering that they are available to attend both these weekends (in London) and are free to write at least two drafts of an original one-hour television drama between January and June 2026.

The first weekend offers the chance to get the inside track on writing for television from expert industry figures. Time will also be set aside to chat through your ideas with our assigned script editor. You’ll then go on to develop your script, submitting a second draft in time for the second weekend.

This will see actors read a section of each script on the first day, followed by discussion and analysis on the second day. We’ll finish with a workshop, course overview and a look at our specific requirements in terms of series and serial television drama.

The course also includes a drinks evening at our offices in London where you can meet industry producers, script editors, literary agents and other useful people to know.

You’ll be paid for taking part and producing two drafts of a one-hour script. The first option on this should be granted to Shelley Productions for Channel 4 to acquire all rights. We’ll let you know within six months of delivery whether we intend to exercise this option.

Click here to see what past successful 4Screenwriting participants got up to. 

 

Applications for the 2026 Channel 4 Screenwriting Course open on 22nd September, 2025!

 

HOW TO APPLY:    

Channel 4 Screenwriting - Philip Shelley, Script Consultant (script-consultant.co.uk)

NOTE: YOU CANNOT SUBMIT THE SAME SCRIPT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE A WRITER WHO IDENTIFIES AS DISABLED, YOU ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT THE SAME SCRIPT A SECOND TIME.

ELIGIBILITY:

Only writers who do not have a broadcast credit as a television writer or theatrical release as a feature film writer may apply (although produced short films – 20 minutes or less – are exempt). 

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS:        

Monday 6th October 2025 at 5.00 pm. 

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