Hi There,
This will be my last newsletter until Friday September 8th as I take a break from it over August.
A few weeks ago, on July 4th, we held the industry drinks evening for this year’s Channel 4 screenwriting course, to introduce this year’s 12 writers to potential employers (producers, development executives, script editors) and literary agents.
The evening was incredibly well-attended and it was great to catch up with so many people who have been involved with the course over its 13 years – writers, script editors, guest speakers and so many other people who I have met and got to know through the course.
The evening motivated me to contact all the writers who’ve been on the course and try to catch up with what they’ve been up to work-wise since being on the course. I had intended to list projects in development but if I’d done that, this very long newsletter would have grown to book-length.
So this is a list of the written TV shows, episodes, films written and broadcast by writers who have been on 4screenwriting – and this is only a very partial list. There are people I haven’t heard from and credits I have omitted to try and keep this to manageable lengths.
I received one very thoughtful response from writer Daniel Cullen, an alumnus of the 2013 course. To quote:-
‘I’m ten years in now. I’d say it was a good five years before I could count on the work to come in steadily enough that I wouldn’t go broke most months, I dunno if that tallies with the general experience of others entering the industry after 4Screenwriting but I certainly didn’t expect to rely as much as I ultimately did on tinned tuna in (fucking) brine. Feels like a lifetime ago now though, and I’ve been fortunate with the rate of work coming in for a long old while. Unquestionably, I owe massive thanks to you and the course for taking me on when you did and demystifying the many jiggling ropes of how the industry runs. Had it not been for 4Screenwriting I don’t imagine that I’d have managed to find my way through the fence at all.’
Aside from the very kind words, I think this is an important reminder that success often doesn’t come straightaway, no matter how talented and hard-working writers are. There are some examples of instant success – but more like Daniel – writers who have really stuck at it and over the years, become increasingly successful and reaped the rewards of their determination. There is no single acknowledged, conventional route into work as a screenwriter – everyone has to find their own path, their own champions.
Hopefully what Daniel says is a helpful, encouraging reminder for writers from the last few years on 4screenwriting still at the start of their screenwriting journey. Super-talented as you are, I am confident that you will all achieve success if you stick at it!
2011
Ruth Fowler – Ruth’s original show The Rules of the Game was broadcast on the BBC last year. She lives in LA and works both in the US and UK. Recently wrote this brilliant article about the facts behind the US writers’ strike – https://www.fastcompany.com/90918934/my-story-highlights-the-importance-of-the-writers-strike
Sophie Woolley – in 2021 wrote two episodes of EastEnders
Evan Placey – has written on the upcoming Sky Atlantic adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Amazon series, SOULMATES.
Melissa Bubnic – has written episodes of SHAMELESS, HOLLYOAKS, NAUTILUS (Disney+), A TOWN CALLED MALICE (Sky), feature film ‘& MRS’
Janice Okoh – has written episodes of HETTY FEATHER, DOCTORS (BBC), SANDITON (ITV), ON THE EDGE (C4).
Natalie Malla – as writer & director her short films, The Girl In The Dress, Killing Thyme, Crush Hour and Mairi have screened at multiple festivals worldwide.
Vivienne Franzmann – TV credits include COLOUR (C4 / Coming Up) and LIZARD (BBC).
Tom Wells – TV credits include BEN & LUMP (Channel 4 / Coming Up).
2012
Cat Jones – Cat’s TV writing credits include DOCTORS, EASTENDERS, WATERLOO ROAD, TATAU (all BBC), YOUNGERS (C4), WOLFE (Sky) & HARLOTS (Hulu)
Jon Brittain – has written on THE CROWN (Netflix).
Eugene O’Hare – short film The Music Room was commissioned by BBC in 2016 and aired on BBC 1 in 2018. The film features the entire Ulster orchestra and was aired to a record audience during Children in Need.
Regina Moriarty – wrote the BBC single MURDERED BY MY BOYFRIEND and the Channel 4 series THE LIGHT IN THE HALL.
2013
Daniel Cullen – wrote the final two episodes of TEMPLE for Sky, an episode of BAD SISTERS (series 1, episode 6) for Apple and an episode for the upcoming final season of BREEDERS (season 4, episode 4) for Sky and FX. Writing a film for the BFI and has had a 6-part series of his own creation commissioned by one of the major streamers.
Anna Symon has had her own shows green-lit and broadcast for the BBC (Mrs Wilson); Apple (The Essex Serpent) and ITV (both Deep Water and the forthcoming Joan)
Ali Zaidi – has recently written 2 episodes of HOLLYOAKS
2014
Jane Eden – has written episodes of THE SPLIT, THE DUMPING GROUND (both BBC) and FORTITUDE (Sky Atlantic).
Charlie Covell created and wrote the iconic THE END OF THE FUCKING WORLD for Channel 4, and Netflix’s forthcoming KAOS. Wote the feature film, BURN BURN BURN & epsiodes of HUMANS, GAP YEAR & BANANA (all C4).
Nida Manzoor created, wrote and directed Channel 4’s WE ARE LADY PARTS (and also released her debut feature as writer/director this year – POLITE SOCIETY; an earlier draft of which got her onto the course to begin with!
Wally Jiagoo – has written episodes of MALORY TOWERS (The Family Channel), THE DUMPING GROUND and PHOENIX PARK, both for CBBC
2015
Phoebe Éclair-Powell – has written on Hollyoaks and Two Weeks to Live. Her play that won the Bruntwood Prize in 2019 will be on at the Royal Exchange Manchester in February 2024.
Karla Crome – has written episodes on TV series Screw (C4), Hooten & The Lady (Sky), The Stranger (Netflix) and Safe (Netflix).
Nessah Muthy – currently writing on The Hunter for Channel 5. Writes on Coronation Street and has written episodes of A Gentleman In Moscow (Showtime) and The Winter King (ITVX)
Vivienne Harvey – won an RTS Award for her first TV commission – EIGHTEEN for Jimmy McGovern’s BBC anthology series MOVING ON. She also won a Writers’ Guild Award for BBC Radio 4 crime serial STONE and has been nominated for the Tinniswood Award. She has written on several TV shows including; HARLOTS for Hulu/BBC, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE for Netflix, SHETLAND for BBC and MRS SIDHU INVESTIGATES for Acorn.
Vinay Patel – wrote the award-winning MURDERED BY MY FATHER (BBC). Has written episodes of DOCTOR WHO (BBC), GOOD KARMA HOSPITAL (ITV) & ONE DAY (Netflix).
2016
Camilla Whitehill – her comedy series Big Mood, starring Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West, is just about to finish post production and will be on Channel 4 at some point in the future. Wrote episodes of PORTERS.
Sonya Desai – has written for: Nautilus, a ten-part live action adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for MoonStories/Disney+, and Episode 4 of Smilla’s Sense of Snow, a new TV adaptation of the novel by Peter Höeg, directed by Amma Asante, for Constantin Films/Viaplay.
Theresa Ikoko – Theresa has two shows now in post-production – Grime Kids for the BBC and Dance School for C4 – and co-wrote the film Rocks (2019)
Paul Williams – written over 20 episodes of “Doctors” (BBC) and currently writing an episode of the recently announced BBC adaptation of Paris Lees “What it Feels like for a Girl”.
Milly Thomas – has written episodes of RIVER CITY & CLIQUE (both BBC).
Faryal Velmi – has written episodes of ACKLEY BRIDGE (C4).
Namsi Khan – has written episodes of HIS DARK MATERIALS & FIVE BY FIVE (BBC), MIDWICH CUCKOOS (Sky), HUMANS (C4) and co-wrote the feature film I CAME BY.
James Hey – wrote the feature film, THE EFFECTS OF LYING (ITVX) and has written for DOCTORS (BBC).
Jane Wainwright – has written 53 episodes of HOLLYOAKS (C4) and has written for THE DUMPING GROUND (BBC).
2017
Nathaniel Price – Nathaniel’s 8-part adaptation of Bernardine Evaristo’s novel MR LOVERMAN goes into production later this year for Fable Pictures / BBC. He has written episodes for NOUGHTS & CROSSES (BBC), TIN STAR series 2 & 3 & THE OUTLAWS (BBC).
Grace Ofori-Attah – Grace had her original series MALPRACTICE on ITV this year. She has written episodes of IN THE LONG RUN & JAMESTOWN (both SKY).
Paul Clarkson – Paul and his twin brother Michael had their original series RED ROSE on the BBC last year. Paul has also written on THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (Netflix)
Charlene James – has written episodes of DOCTOR WHO (BBC), A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES & THE RISING (both Sky).
David Judge – has written episodes of CORONATION STREET.
2018
Anna Ssemuyaba – has written on UPLOAD (Amazon), Hijack (Apple TV) & Unsaid Stories (ITV).
Chandni Lakhani – in production on new show Department Q for Netflix, as lead writer. She has written episodes of DUBLIN MURDERS, VIGIL (both BBC)
Matthew Jacobs Morgan – co-producer and staff writer on the HBO/Bad Robot adaptation of JOHN CONSTANTINE, wrote an episode of THE RIG for Amazon, which was one of their most streamed shows, and currently contributing an episode on DOPE GIRLS for BBC/Bad Wolf.
Archie Maddocks – wrote an episode of INTERGALACTIC (Sky).
2019
Karen Cogan – was lead writer (along with Dominic Treadwell-Collins) on Holding for ITV last year. She is writing on BAD SISTERS S2 (Apple TV) and wrote on THE YOUNG OFFENDERS (BBC)
Cat Moulton – written episodes of Baptiste for BBC, Then You Run for Sky and Hijack for Apple TV. Spent much of the last year writing Playdate for Disney +, which is filming this summer. It’s adapted from the novel of the same name by Alex Dahl and she’s writing all five episodes. Her original series, Code of Silence, is also green-lit at ITV and will star Rose Ayling Ellis as a lip reader who works with the police.
Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre – one episode of Nautilus for Disney out this autumn. Pilot of Ellis for C5. Adaptation of Christie’s Murder is Easy for BBC Christmas Day two-parter.
Adam Usden – has written on ZERO CHILL (Netflix), ACKLEY BRIDGE (C4), LUPIN (Netflix), WOLFE (Sky).
Tolula Dada – has written episodes of RED ROSE (BBC), GRANTCHESTER (ITV) and NO ESCAPE (Paramount+)
2020
Chloe Mi Lin Ewart – has written episodes of ALL GREATURES GREAT & SMALL (C5) & BEYOND PARADISE (BBC).
Ajoke Ibironke – has written on A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER (BBC)
Annalisa Dinnella – has written episodes of RALPH & KATIE, THE BREAK (both BBC) and SEX EDUCATION (Netflix).
2021
Thara Popoola – wrote on SEX EDUCATION Series 4 and the upcoming QUEENIE (C4). Her comedy short JOBLESS is on BBC iPlayer.
Laurence Clark – his comedy pilot PERFECT has been TX-ed on Dave and he’s written an episode of CBBC show Andy and the Band which will go out in the autumn.
Amy Trigg – wrote an episode of ‘Ralph & Katie’ (BBC).
Jeffrey Aidoo – has written on PHOENIX RISE (BBC).
2022
William Mager – writing a TV series with Warp Films and a major broadcaster – filming planned in 2024. Wrote for DOG SQUAD (CBeebies) and THE SOUND COLLECTOR (CITV).
Thank you for subscribing and reading – and I will be back in touch with the next newsletter on Friday September 8th,
Best wishes for an enjoyable summer,
Phil
PHILIP SHELLEY
Twitter (X?): @PhilipShelley1
Friday July 28th 2023
