Doctor Who executive producer Russell T. Davies to mentor Welsh drama writers

To celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025, Jane Tranter’s production company Bad Wolf (Doctor Who, His dark materials) is launching the Blaidd Writers Programme, a “six-month paid development and training initiative to find and nurture the next generation of Welsh playwrights in partnership with Screen Alliance Wales”. Participants will be mentored by writers Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, National Treasure), Russell T. Davies (Doctor Who, It’s a Sin) and Marnie Dickens (Gold digger, Wilderness)

The programme, which was unveiled on Tuesday, will see the three writers develop an original contemporary drama set in Wales with Bad Wolf. They will also take part in masterclasses with industry professionals, including the co-creators of the hit HBO and BBC drama IndustryMickey Down and Konrad Kay and the scriptwriter and In my skin creator Kayleigh Llewellyn.

The writers will begin their internships in January at Bad Wolf’s Cardiff HQ, Wolf Studios Wales. They will be assigned individual script editors and producers to support them through the development process, and will receive regular guidance and feedback from Tranter and Bad Wolf’s Chief Content Officer, Dan McCulloch.

Each writer will be paid an £18,000 ($23,410) stipend to write a script and essay. Travel, accommodation and other expenses will be covered by Bad Wolf.

“Wales has been the beating heart of Bad Wolf for the past decade. It is vital to our future and the future of the Welsh television industry that we continue to nurture future generations of writers,” said Tranter. “With guidance from our industry mentors, as well as Bad Wolf’s executive producers and script editors, our Blaidd writers will not only develop their scripts but also gain a broader understanding of the television industry and production process.”

Davies said: “I’d love to help mentor the next generation of talented writers in Wales, alongside Bad Wolf.” Thorne added: “I’m half Welsh, and at least half writer, and I love the programme because it’s about supporting writers – with money – as they develop. The industry is in a strange place at the moment, but we need to support young talent or we’ll be depriving ourselves of a future. I’m interested in developing disabled voices because I think it’s still an underrepresented sector, so I’d like to work with them on that.”

And Dickens said: “I am delighted to be part of such a well-considered and appropriately funded project aimed at strengthening the voice of Welsh writers.”

Applications for the programme open on Monday 16 September and close on Friday 4 October. To apply, applicants must submit a 10-page extract from an original pilot script, a two-page supporting document and a 500-word statement of why they would benefit from the programme via screenalliancewales.com. Successful writers will be required to submit a full pilot script for consideration. Only writers resident in Wales who have a maximum of one television or film script contribution to broadcast are eligible to apply.