Seventeen emerging writers from across the UK have joined Channel 4’s New Writers Scheme, a nine-month programme designed to support new and under-represented voices in television drama.
The initiative offers writers the opportunity to develop their first pilot episode-spec for TV, with expert guidance and mentoring from scripted indies and a script editor, alongside feedback from Channel 4.
This year, the scheme has expanded to include Northern Ireland, with five writers from the region joining writers based near Channel 4’s regional hubs in Bristol, Glasgow, and Leeds.
The scheme launched this week at Channel 4’s National Headquarters in Leeds, with expert talks from screenwriters Grace-Ofori Attah (Malpractice, Playing Nice) and Helen Black (Time, Life and Death in the Warehouse).
Writers also heard from Channel 4’s Interim Head of Drama Gwawr Lloyd and World Production’s Head of Development and Exec ProducerEmma Luffingham, before taking part in two days of bespoke training led by television producer and script editor John Yorke.
The New Writers Scheme is funded and developed by 4Skills with Channel 4 Drama and supported by the BFI NETWORK (Film Hub South West and Film Hub North), alongside support from Screen Scotland and Northern Ireland Screen.
Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships & Skills, Nations & Regions at Channel 4, said: “Giving emerging and talented writers the opportunity to grow their craft is written into Channel 4’s DNA. We’re thrilled to be expanding to Northern Ireland this year and work with Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Scotland and the BFI NETWORK to open up new pathways for regional talent.”
Gwawr Lloyd, Interim Head of Drama at Channel 4, said: “It was a real pleasure to meet this year’s cohort, all of whom are very talented and deeply committed to developing their craft over the course. We’re very proud of the scheme – now returning for its third year – which is connecting us with writers from across the UK and helping them gain experience in the industry. We wish them all the best on the scheme and are really excited to see how their ideas evolve and take shape over the coming months.”
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “We’re thrilled to see the first Northern Ireland cohort of Channel 4’s New Writers Scheme officially underway. This is a fantastic opportunity for emerging writers here to take the next step in their careers to develop their voices, build industry connections and get one step closer to seeing their stories on screen.
“Channel 4 has a strong track record of backing bold, authentic storytelling and Derry Girls, written by Northern Ireland’s own Lisa McGee, is proof of how local stories can strike a chord with audiences around the world. Partnering with Channel 4 on this scheme allows us to champion fresh, diverse talent and ensure Northern Ireland’s next generation of writers have the support they need to make their mark in television drama.”
Alice Cabañas, Head of BFI NETWORK, said: “As a programme that prioritises nurturing underrepresented writing talent from across the nations and regions, we are delighted to support this initiative. Now in its third edition, it is fantastic to see it expand into Northern Ireland.”
Kieran Hannigan, Head of Scripted at Screen Scotland said: “Channel 4 have once again unearthed some great Scottish talent. We’ve seen firsthand the benefits for some of the past participants of the scheme and hope this year’s writers gain just as much from this invaluable opportunity to develop their craft in the hands of some top indies and the great team at Channel 4.”
Meet the Writers
Mahmut Mahmut
Mahmut is a Liverpool-based screenwriter with a background in anthropology and theatre, having worked as a reader for the Liverpool Everyman and as a dramaturge. A Goldsmiths MA Scriptwriting graduate, he began developing concepts for TV as a teenager in numerous call centres, using the time between dodged calls to build stories instead. A three-time winner of the Scriptwriters & Co short script prize, Mahmut has a passion for crafting character-led genre fiction, particularly in sci-fi, horror, and romance. Outside writing, Mahmut enjoys baking, reading, and interactive media, often overanalysing films and TV with his partner and two cats.
Lara Orriss
Lara is an emerging writer whose professional journey began by ‘stylishly winging it’, writing and adapting plays and events for a regional theatre company. She earned an English Literature and Creative Writing BA from Lancaster University, a Screenwriting MA from the University of Manchester, and achieved a place on the Channel 4 Production Training Scheme. Lara spent time as an Assistant Script Editor for Hollyoaks, and now works as a Researcher for Emmerdale. She enjoys crafting scripts that delve into difficult-to-digest themes with flair: finding the heart, humour and excitement in each scene that connect us as viewers and people.
Gomolemo Nyakale
Gomolemo Nyakale (or Goms) is a South African writer and filmmaker based in West Yorkshire. A graduate of The Northern Film School, he’s developed his craft through short films, documentaries, and campaign projects spotlighting real people. His Sky Arts short The Last Day screened at Manchester Lift-Off and Cambridge Short Film Festival. Goms is proud of his heritage and life as a working-class immigrant raised in Ilkeston, East Midlands. And it’s through this perspective that his stories take shape. Telling stories about identity, class, faith, and belonging. Always grounded in honesty, flawed characters, and northern humour. In 2024, Goms joined Screen Yorkshire’s Beyond Brontës programme to further develop his screenwriting voice.
Omari Swanston – Jeffers
Omari Swanston – Jeffers: is an artist, educator and director of arts production company Ol’ Man Swanny. Specialising in dance, directing and literature, dance is his first art form. Omari started his professional training at 13 with RJC Dance, studying West-African, Afro-Caribbean and Contemporary dance. His directing career began with the Leeds Playhouse in 2015. And Northern Noir, his first theatre production, premiered to sold-out audiences. In January 2019. Omari holds a First Class BA in Creative Writing and a Master’s in Education. As an educator, he’s served as a high school English teacher for 5 years. Omari’s practice spans from screen to stage, from dance to song. Nevertheless, as a published poet, the poetic form shapes everything.
Ross Morrison and Ross McClure (Ross Dos)
Ross Dos are a Northern Irish writing duo who use genre as a funhouse mirror to pick apart and ridicule the techno-dystopia we’re all plugged into. In 2023 their short ‘Other Inc.’ was a finalist in No Sleep Til Film Fest run by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO Films and in 2024 they were finalists in the Shore Scripts, Short Com and BBC Comedy Collective script competitions.
Morrison was named one of the UK and Ireland’s Most Exciting Young Writers in 2009 and has since gone on to produce award-winning animation, TV, film and video game projects including Tt Games’ LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Beach House Pictures’ Lift The Ice, and Discovery’s Shark Week.
McClure is an award-winning writer/director with an established portfolio in commercial and branded storytelling. His short films have screened at festivals worldwide. In 2020 he launched Magic Eye, a production house creating bold content for clients including BBC, Heineken, Peugeot, Sony and Universal Pictures.
Jonathan M. Daley
Jonathan is a writer based in Belfast. He has written predominately for stage with work produced across the UK and Ireland. In 2020, he received his first full commission from Tinderbox Theatre Company with his play Sylvan premiering in Autumn 2021. The development of his work has been supported by The Abbey Theatre Dublin, Prime Cut Productions and the Lyric Theatre, Belfast amongst others. He is currently working on a seed commission about the DeLorean factory in Belfast, and a new performance piece called Parboil, Then Sauté which will premiere in early November.
Claire Handley
Claire is a writer and producer with a passion for creating character-driven, emotionally resonant stories for the screen, with a particular focus on women’s experiences. She holds a Master’s in Writing for Script and Screen from the University of Falmouth and a BA in Drama and French from Queen’s University Belfast. With over ten years in the television industry, she has a strong background in producing content for young audiences and extensive experience at Belfast-based Paper Owl Films, contributing to projects such as Lí Ban (TG4/S4C, 2024) and OK SO (BBC Northern Ireland, 2018).
Katie Murphy
Katie Bridget Murphy is a writer & director from Belfast. Since being selected for Northern Ireland Screen’s New Shorts Focus scheme in 2018, Katie has since written and directed six funded short films, including Miss & Missus, Fourth, and Polished, the latter most recently screening at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh.
She was a participant in the 2022/23 BBC Writersroom Belfast Voices and was selected in 2024 for Screen Ireland’s X-Pollinator programme for emerging writer/directors. She has recently been selected for Tinderbox Theatre Company’s Engine Programme 25/26 and will have an extract of her work staged at The MAC theatre next year.
Isla Robertson
Isla Robertson is based on the remote Morvern Peninsula in the Scottish Highlands. She recently completed an MA with distinction in TV Fiction Writing from Glasgow Caledonian University. Previously, she was a recipient of The Playwright’s Studio Scotland New Playwright’s Award and part of their mentorship programme where she was mentored by award-winning playwrights Oliver Emanuel and Nicola McCartney. She has also been an associate artist at Mull Theatre where she created How To Swim, a walking audio drama.
Geraldine Lang
Geraldine Lang is a playwright and screenwriter from Kirkintilloch, Glasgow. She was a finalist for BBC’s Alfred Bradley Bursary Award with her feature film script. She is currently being mentored by award-winning playwright Stef Smith through Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and writing a full-length play. She was one of four writers selected for Hampstead Theatre’s inaugural Inspire playwriting programme. She holds an MA in Screenwriting from the University of Manchester.
Geraldine’s short plays have been performed at Theatre503 and in Paines Plough’s Roundabout, and she has written work for BBC 1Xtra and Theatre Centre’s lockdown project ImagiNation.
Eliza Gearty
Eliza Gearty is a writer based in Glasgow drawn to telling character-led stories about the impact of socio-political issues on lives and relationships. Her debut play ABOUT MONEY was staged at Theatre503 and Summerhall during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022, where it won a Scottish Arts Club Theatre Award. She has been a Breakthrough Writer in Residence at the Traverse Theatre and a BBC Writers Scottish Voice. Eliza is also the author of a novella, On The Doors.
Jaimini Jethwa
Jaimini graduated with a BA (Hons) in Film and Photographic Arts and an MA in Screenwriting at Northern Film School. She gained recognition with her degree film ‘Another Saturday Night’, starring Stephen Graham. She’s worked with National Theatre Scotland, The Royal Lyceum, and Dundee Rep, with her sold-out plays, ‘Last Queen of Scotland’, ‘Hindu Times’, Edinburgh Fringe. Member of BBC Scottish Voices, shortlisted, BBC Social, BBC Comedy Collective, and BBC Radio Drama. She performed at The Stand comedy club, shortlisted as Scots Writer of the Year. WFTV Screenwriting Lab 2024. She won an award for Best Documentary. Produced live music content for bands, The View. Currently, she’s writing and directing a short film with Little Pictures.
Yazmin Joy Vigus
Yazmin is an emerging writer and filmmaker from Truro, Cornwall. Her passion is telling intimate, emotionally complex, primarily but not exclusively, female-led stories, that make you giggle, punches you in the gut and then makes you cry.
Her BFI NETWORK-backed short MERMAIDS world premiered at the BAFTA-qualifying Underwire film festival 2022, where she was nominated for Best Directing. Yaz was a part of the cohort for the BBC Writersroom Cornish Voices 2020/21, and finalist for the Channel 4 Screenwriting Course 2023.
Alongside cutting her teeth as an Exective Producer/Director’s assistant in HETV at Netflix, she’s currently developing a slate of film and TV projects including her forthcoming eco-animation short THE LOBSTER PRINCE, and her debut feature FIVE STEPS FROM STARDOM.
Dan Heyes
Dan Heyes is an emerging TV writer from Bristol. Informed by his experiences as a young carer, life in supported housing, and recovery from addiction, his work explores resilience at the edge of hope through a lens of grit and dry humour. He’s drawn to characters who aren’t fixed, to rules that are broken, and to the messy beauty of survival. His debut short film Glass Jaw was shortlisted at the 2025 Recovery Street Film Festival. Dan has worked with the Bristol Old Vic and Tobacco Factory Theatres and trained with Curtis Brown and Faber & Faber.
Lara Fullalove
Lara Fullalove is a writer-director from South Devon whose work explores regional stories and underrepresented voices. Her short film Christmas, 1978 screened at BIFA-qualifying festivals across the UK, and she was selected for the BFI South West New Voices Scheme in 2024. She is currently developing her new short Dig My Grave!, supported through a Mead Fellowship, awarded by UAL, and scheduled to shoot in Easter 2026.
Georgia Day
Georgia is a queer non-binary Cardiff-based writer and filmmaker. Their short film credits include ‘Fruits of the Spirit: a Gathering Film’ (2024), and ‘Searching For Sunday’ (2025). Alongside this, they completed the National Film and Television School’s short course ‘Screenwriting: Finding Your Voice’ in 2024. They love writing stories about LGBTQ+ people, the intersection of those themes and religion, and stories about other social issues such as class and fatness.
Pippa Considine
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