Hi There,
This fortnight my screenwriting newsletter consists of the Channel 4 press release about the 2026 Channel 4 screenwriting course that is being sent out today (Friday June 12th). This is an announcement – and celebration – of the 12 writers who have been on this year’s 4screenwriting AND the other 11 writers who have been mentored on the shadow scheme that runs alongside the main course. These are the other writers who were short-listed and interviewed. This mentoring scheme has been running alongside the main course for the last few years and enables us to engage with even more talented new screenwriters. There have been several writers who have been on the mentoring scheme one year and then on the main course the next year (eg Shola Asante was on the mentoring scheme in 2025 and on 4screenwriting this year). We’re enormously grateful to the industry mentors who take the time and trouble to advise these 11 writers (the mentors are producers, development executives, script editors and writers).
The press release also gives you an idea of the sort of guest speakers we have on the course – and lists a tiny proportion of the very many success stories that the course has spawned.
The final part of the course is the industry drinks evening later this month where the writers get to meet so many future potential employers.
CHANNEL 4’S 4SCREENWRITING ANNOUNCES DRAMA WRITERS FOR 2026
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:
- Paul Clarkson– Red Rose
- Charlie Covell– Kaos
- Daniel Cullen– Stags
- Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre– Ellis
- Theresa Ikoko– Grime Kids
- Cat Jones– The Jetty
- Chandni Lakhani– Department Q
- William Mager– Reunion
- Archie Maddocks– Crongton
- Nida Manzoor– We Are Lady Parts
- Catherine Moulton– The Stolen Girl
- Catherine Moulton– Code of Silence
- Grace Ofori-Attah– Malpractice (S1&2), Playing Nice
- Nathaniel Price– Mr Loverman
- Anna Symon– Joan
- Camilla Whitehill– Big Mood
- Lydia Yeoman– Curfew
This year, the twelve writers who were selected and have completed the course are:
- Chakira Alin
- Shola Asante
- Clare Baines
- Vickie Donoghue
- Georgia Goggin
- Olivia Hirst
- Charles Macpherson
- Liam Moffat
- Tia-Renee Mullings
- Danielle Reid
- Tommy Ross-Williams
- Courtney May Sophia
A further eleven writers were also recognised. As part of the scheme, they were partnered and mentored by someone working within the industry:
- Lewis Brierly (mentored by Tom Williams)
- Alice Burden(mentored by Nancy Napper Canter)
- Lyndon Chapman(mentored by Jaleh Brazell)
- Matthew Davis(mentored by Flo Robertson)
- Amelia Fergusson(mentored by Mpona Lebajoa)
- Alistair Hall (mentored by Billy Lyons)
- Zia Holloway(mentored by Roxy Cook)
- Jennifer Hulman(mentored by Lily Shahmoon)
- Kieran Lynn (mentored by Sam Tomlinson)
- Anna Morris(mentored by Hannah Radley)
- Alvin Yu(mentored by Racha Sobratee)
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.
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The next newsletter will be on Friday June 26th.
Best wishes
Phil
PHILIP SHELLEY
Friday June 12th 2026