Submissions open Thursday 1st February 2018 – Deadline Friday 9th February 2018

Writers will be required to submit: 

• an existing original spec script, full length and could be for any medium; TV, film, radio, theatre
• a one/two-page pitch for an original TV serial/series idea for ITV
• a short CV highlighting any previous writing credits (these are not essential to enter)

Up to ten shortlisted writers will then be invited to a pitching master-class with Red Planet Pictures CEO Tony Jordan (Life On Mars, Hustle, Dickensian) and ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill and Victoria Fea, ITV’s Senior Drama Commissioner, who, along with actor Adrian Lester OBE (Riviera, Hustle, and next year’s new ITV three-part drama, Trauma, alongside John Simm), make up the judging panel.

Hopefuls will then be asked to write the first ten pages of their original idea, and hone their pitch and series outline. The strongest ideas will have development input and up to four writers will be invited to final interview, from which the ultimate winner will be chosen. The successful writer will get a script commission and development opportunities with ITV.

This year’s Prize winner will be produced by Kate Rowland, who will also be one of the judges. Rowland set up the BBC Writersroom and across her career she has been responsible for developing the early career of some of the UK’s most successful screenwriters including Lee Hall (War Horse), Stephen Butchard (The Child in Time) and Sarah Phelps (And Then There Were None).

Screenwriters must be based in the UK and the original TV idea should not be in development with another broadcaster or production company.

Submissions are open from Thursday 1st February 2018 with deadline Friday 9th February 2018 via the Red Planet Pictures website