‘Doctor Who’ Exec Producer Russell T Davies to Mentor Welsh Drama Writers

In celebration of its 10th anniversary in 2025, Jane Tranter’s production firm Bad Wolf is launching the Blaidd Writers Program. This “rolling six-month paid development and training initiative aims to find and nurture the next generation of Welsh drama writers, in collaboration with Screen Alliance Wales.”

Participants in the program will benefit from mentorship by renowned screenwriters such as 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 have three writers working with Bad Wolf to develop an original, contemporary Wales-set returning drama. They will participate 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.

Starting in January, the selected writers will begin their placements at Bad Wolf’s Cardiff headquarters, Wolf Studios Wales. They will be supported by individual script editors and producers throughout the development process, along with regular guidance and feedback from Tranter and Bad Wolf’s director of content, Dan McCulloch.

Each writer will receive a bursary of £18,000 ($23,410) to develop their script and a treatment. Bad Wolf will also cover travel, accommodation, and other expenses.

“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 and 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.”

Russell T Davies added, “I’m delighted to help mentor the next generation of writing talent in Wales, alongside Bad Wolf.” Jack Thorne expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “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 is underrepresented, so that’s whom I’ll work with on this.”

Marnie Dickens also shared her enthusiasm: “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 program open on Monday, Sept. 16, and close on Friday, Oct. 4. To apply, candidates 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 then need to submit a full pilot script for consideration. However, only writers based in Wales who have a maximum of one broadcast credit as a TV writer or feature film writer can apply.

Source: Deadline