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Sky Writes: Blackpool

Sky Writes is a pioneering writing for television programme created by New Writing North and Sky Studios. The programme is looking to find new television writers from under-represented backgrounds and encourage them to develop their creative and professional skills.

About Sky Writes: Blackpool

Sky Writes is led by experienced Writers in Residence and a team of specialist Programme Producers, overseen by New Writing North.

Our focus is on three specific areas in the North, including Blackpool. If you’re based in one of these locations, we’re looking forward to meeting you, hearing your stories and supporting you as you take your first steps into TV scriptwriting.

We created Sky Writes to contribute to diversifying the pool of television writers in the UK. The programme is looking for people whose stories are not being widely told on our TV screens and whose backgrounds are under-represented in broadcasting.

This includes but is not confined to people of colour and those from LGBTQ+, disabled, lower socio-economic and working-class backgrounds.

The programme begins in April 2021 with a selection of Starting to Write for TV sessions. No writing experience is needed for these.

Following these sessions, some writers will be invited to apply for the workshop phase of the programme which will take place during the summer and autumn. The workshops will take a deeper approach and be supplemented by masterclasses featuring specialist guest speakers.

At the end of the programme, our hope is that participants will have developed their craft in TV writing, gained valuable professional awareness of the industry and feel confident about seeking out further opportunities in screenwriting.

All aspects of Sky Writes are free to participants, but you must live in or around Blackpool to take part. Sky Writes will be running digitally until it’s safe to meet face-to-face again and will be delivered via Zoom.

Join us for a free workshop

Sky Writes Blackpool: Starting to Write for TV workshop

13 Apr 2021

Sky Writes Blackpool: Starting to Write for TV workshop

17 Apr 2021

Writer in Residence: Caroline Mitchell

Caroline Mitchell has an MA in Screenwriting from the Northern Film School and has written over 200 episodes of the BAFTA and National Television award winning soap opera, Emmerdale, since 2002. She has also contributed to other drama series and is currently writing her first novel, alongside developing a feature-length screenplay and a comedy series both set in Yorkshire. She lives in Hebden Bridge with her two schnauzers, Sybil and Mavis.

Caroline Mitchell

Programme Producer: Chandan Shergill

Chandan Shergill hails from Wigan, she studied French and German at the University of Bristol and enjoyed time working abroad in Vienna, Paris, and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. She is currently the Coordinator of the Young Audiences Content Fund at the British Film Institute, which supports the creation of distinctive public service TV content for audiences up to the age of 18. She also works with BFI Network in the reader pool for the Short Film Fund, is on the steering group for a More in Common project at the People’s History Museum in Salford, and is a trustee at Manchester City of Literature. She spent several years in a talent agency representing television presenters in London, and more recently she has worked in the charity and public sector, with roles at Refugee Action and Manchester City Council. She lives in Manchester and enjoys reading (of course!) cooking, and yoga. Chandan is delighted to be working with New Writing North and Sky Studios on this vital project.

Chandan Shergill
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