The ITV Academy has announced the return of the broadcaster’s successful writing initiative ‘Original Voices’.
The long-standing scheme gives applicants from under-represented groups the chance to work on Britain’s biggest soap operas and particularly welcomes applications from people of colour, deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people.
Having previously alternated between the UK’s best-loved soaps, this year the initiative will be offered concurrently across both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, creating more opportunities for emerging writers to get their first television drama experience.
Working in parallel with ITV’s most experienced scriptwriters, candidates will gain a complete understanding of the story-to-script process at two of the busiest programmes on TV as the scheme hosts two placements at each soap, running alongside each other for a 12-week paid period.
Successful candidates will be at the heart of ITV Studios’ continuing drama production, mentored by one of the show’s current writers. Successful applicants will get the chance to write a shadow script (commissioned at the same time as the current writer’s script), with 12 months of mentoring following on after the initiative closes.
David Proud, who secured a permanent role on Coronation Street in 2020 after completing the initiative, said: “For a writer Original Voices is the best career opportunity you could ever apply for. It gives people hands-on experience at the heart of continuing drama and you become a fully valued part of the writing team. It changed my life and now I try to honour that original voice in the episodes I write. If you have something unique to say then apply, as you might end up getting to say it in our writer’s room.”
John Whiston, managing director of continuing drama, added: “Original Voices has opened up doors and given invaluable real-time experience to aspiring writers, some of whom go on to become regular writers on ITV’s most iconic soaps, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. This initiative gives fantastic opportunities to new diverse talent so they can sit at the table, have a voice in the room and be a part of key creative conversations.”
Applicants from under-represented backgrounds, particularly people of colour, deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications are now open and will close on 24th September 2023, with placements to begin in February 2024.
