BBC writersroom and the Doctors team at BBC Birmingham are searching for exceptional new and emerging writers from the Midlands who want to write drama for television.  If you have a strong individual voice, the ability to create great characters and tell compelling stories, and a real passion for television drama, you could take part in Heartlands.

Heartlands will provide an industry training and development opportunity for writers with some of the most experienced producers in the country. A shortlist will be invited to a masterclass day. Selected writers will then be chosen to take part in an intensive three-day mini-academy for Doctors, and/or receive mentoring on their original script from an established writer.

To apply, you need to send us a calling card script - an original drama for TV, film, radio or theatre of at least 30 pages in length and a one page idea for an original TV Drama (series, serial or single) that you would like to write.

• Writers must have had no previous TV network broadcast credits.
• Writers must be resident in the ‘heartlands’ region, which includes (and is limited to): Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire. Judges will include Will Trotter (Executive Producer, Doctors) and Kate Rowland (BBC Creative Director, New Writing).

We will be hosting a free, open event at the Library Theatre in Birmingham on November 14th with Will Trotter, Peter Lloyd (Senior Producer, Doctors) and Paul Ashton (BBC Writersroom) to launch the search, talk about Doctors, and answer your questions.  Book your place.

Entries should be submitted by e-mail to writersroom.schemes@bbc.co.ukalong with a completed application form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring form (optional).  
Download the application form.
Download the Equal Opportunities form.

Postal entries should be sent to: Heartlands, BBC writersroom, 3rd Floor, 19 Langham Street, London W1A 1AA.

Launch event:  Monday 14th November - book your FREE place.

Deadline: 9am Friday 2nd December 2011 
(By email or post with application form)

Shortlist announced: Tuesday 13th December

Masterclass: Tuesday 20th December 2011
Selected writer(s) announced: Wednesday 4th January 2012

Mini-academy: 11-13 January 2012

Before entering, please read the full terms and conditions for the Heartlands competition.