In celebration of its 10th anniversary in 2025, Jane Trenter‘s production firm Bad Wolf (Doctor Who, His Dark Materials) is launching the Blaidd Writers Program, a “rolling six-month paid development and training initiative to find and nurture the next generation of Welsh drama writers, in association with Screen Alliance Wales.” Participants will be mentored by screenwriters Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, National Treasure), Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, It’s A Sin), and Marnie Dickens (Gold Digger, Wilderness)
The scheme, unveiled on Tuesday, will see three writers develop, with Bad Wolf, an original, contemporary Wales-set returning drama. They will also take part in masterclasses with industry professionals, including the co-creators of HBO and BBC’s hit drama Industry, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, and screenwriter and In My Skin creator Kayleigh Llewellyn.
Writers will start their placements in January at Bad Wolf’s Cardiff headquarters, Wolf Studios Wales. They will be allocated individual script editors and producers to support them through the development process and will also receive regular guidance and feedback from Tranter and Bad Wolf director of content Dan McCulloch.
Each writer will be paid a bursary of £18,000 ($23,410) to develop their script and a treatment, with travel, accommodation, and other expenses covered by Bad Wolf.
“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,” said Tranter. “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.”
Davies said: “I’m delighted to help mentor the next generation of writing talent in Wales, alongside Bad Wolf.” Added Thorne: “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 underrepresented, so that’s who I’ll work with on this.”
And 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.”
Applications for the scheme open on Monday, Sept. 16 and close on Friday, Oct. 4. To apply, candidates will need to submit a 10-page extract from an original pilot script, a supporting two-page pitch document, and a 500-word statement on why they would benefit from the scheme via screenalliancewales.com. Shortlisted writers will have to submit a full pilot script for consideration. Only writers based in Wales who have a maximum of one broadcast credit as a TV writer or feature film writer can apply.
