An exciting opportunity aimed at finding new comedy gold in Northern Ireland. #seanocarolan.com #writing #scripts #contets #competitions #opportunities

BBC Comedy Commissioning and BBC Writersroom are joining forces in a talent search to find new comedy gold in Northern Ireland.

If you can invent characters that make us laugh out loud, tell stories that keep us on the edge of our seats, and tease the audience to come back for more, then we want to hear from you.

Write it, send it in - and you could be in line not just for a comedy masterclass but you will also get a comedy mentor to help you develop your idea with BBC Comedy producers, and a £1k pilot script commission. This is an opportunity not to be missed – (if your idea leaps every hurdle then you may even get the chance of your work performed at our Sitcom Showcase).

The challenge is to write an original comedy script with series potential. We’re looking for writers that reflect modern Britain, comedy voices that have not yet been heard, and Northern Irish talent that’s just bursting to get on our screens. We are open to different forms of comedy, with great characters that leap out at us, including non- traditional forms of narrative, but we are NOT looking for sketch shows.

You will need to send us a script that’s between 15 - 30 minutes long and a one page outline of how your series would develop. The work you submit must not have been previously commissioned, optioned or produced on terrestrial TV. You must also be living and working in Northern Ireland.

Read the full Terms and Conditions of entry

Judges: Kate Rowland (BBC Creative Director, New Writing), Kristian Smith (Commissioning Editor, BBC Comedy) and a comedy writer/actor (name to be announced).

Opening Date for Submissions: Monday 15th September 2014

(Submissions will be via our online submissions system – the submission link will be available on this page from Monday 15th September 2014. Please note that all scripts must be submitted in PDF format.)

Closing Date for Submissions: Tuesday 30th September 2014

Shortlist invited to meet the judges: 24-28 November 2014 (tbc)

Winner Notified and Announced: December 2014