ELIGIBILITY:

Entry is only open to anyone who at 4 June 2025 is (a) over the age of 18 and (b) not considered to be a resident of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (“UK”). Professional and previously published writers are eligible to enter, but this is not a requirement of entry. We may require proof of eligibility.

Entrants must not be BBC, BBC Group company, or British Council employees, close relatives of such employees or any person connected to the competition. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.

Entrants should write an audio drama script of approximately forty to fifty minutes’ length on any subject of their choice.

The entrants warrant, by submitting scripts, that each drama:
is the original work of the entrants and does not infringe the rights of any other party
is not an adaptation of an earlier work (for example, a novel)
will not be under contract for, or have been professionally produced in, any medium (an informal script-reading is acceptable; a script-reading with a professional director and in front of a non-paying audience is acceptable, but a performance involving payment to actors and/or a paying audience is not) before 30 September 2026
has not been created or developed with the use of generative AI tools

The winning writers will be deemed to have entered into an undertaking not to accept offers for their entries from other broadcasters or publishers before 30 September 2026.

All scripts submitted must be approximately 40-50 minutes in length – this usually equates to a minimum of 35 pages of A4 paper (or equivalent) and a maximum of 60 pages (note, a rough guide is a minute per page; please read and time your drama before you send it). The drama should have a maximum of six central characters (there may be up to 3 small “doubling” characters too, who don’t have more than a few lines each). Word count approx. 7000-9000 words.

Your script should be accompanied by a short synopsis which outlines the complete story of the drama. This must be no more than 400 words.

There are two prize categories for entry. One is for entrants who speak English as their first language, and the other is for entrants with English as a second language. The BBC may require proof of eligibility for the selected category before announcing a winner.

BENEFIT:

“Prize”: The Cash Prize and the Trip
“The Cash Prize”: £2,500 sterling (or the equivalent in a local currency at the BBC’s discretion)
“The Trip”: a trip to the UK (standard airfare and accommodation for one person) to see the winning drama being recorded and attend a prize-giving event