Why do you have an E-Submissions system?
Our online submissions system for scripts (E-Submissions) is here to make the process of submitting your script to ±«Óãtv Writers simpler and more secure for you as a writer and more efficient for us to manage.
Finding new writing talent and new voices for the ±«Óãtv is our priority, and we want the process around finding that talent and those great scripts, to be as straightforward and streamlined as possible.
The previous system of submitting printed copies of scripts via post required a huge amount of administration – requiring each script to be manually logged by a member of staff. This meant that there were often delays in you receiving acknowledgement that your script had reached us and delays in finding out about the progress of your script.
With the E-submissions system, you will receive an immediate acknowledgement with a submission number once you submit a script to us and you will also be able to log-in online to keep an eye on your progress (though we will still be primarily updating you via the e-mail address you have registered with).
The online (E-Submissions) system is also kinder to the environment as our reading process is done entirely electronically, saving a huge amount of paper (in an average year we can receive up to 10,000 scripts). It will also help you save money on postage!
How do I set up a profile?
If this is the first time that you have entered one of our opportunities then you must first set up a profile on the E-submissions system. You can do this at any time by visiting the and clicking on Sign Up. You can also create a profile as part of the process of entering your first opportunity.
Your profile on the ±«Óãtv Writers E-Submissions system is completely separate from ±«Óãtv ID (that is used for ±«Óãtv iPlayer etc).
Once you have created a profile you can login at any time to check the status of any submissions you have previously made or to update your details.
How do I enter an Opportunity?
To submit your script for a particular ±«Óãtv Writers talent search or opportunity please browse the current listing of Opportunities on the ±«Óãtv Writers website. ±«Óãtv Writers opportunities which are currently accepting submissions will provide a specific submission link through to E-submissions to allow you to submit your work online.
If you have previously submitted an entry to an opportunity using the E-submissions system and have therefore already created a profile, please use these details to log-in when prompted.
If this is the first time you have entered an opportunity via E-submissions then you will be able to create a profile as part of the process of entering your submission.
To enter an opportunity you must use the link which is specific to that opportunity and will be published on the webpage for the opportunity.
Before submitting your script to any talent search, please ensure that you read the terms and conditions to ensure that you are eligible to enter. You will be asked to confirm your eligibility before entering.
Can I withdraw my script?
You can withdraw your script at any time up until the talent search closes to submissions. To do so, log in to E-Submissions, select the relevant submission and choose Withdraw my Submission. You will then be sent an email from the ±«Óãtv Writers confirming that your application has been withdrawn.
After the submission window closes, you will no longer be able to withdraw your script yourself but instead you can email bbcwriters@bbc.co.uk to ask that we manually exclude your script from the reading process.
Can I amend my submission after I’ve uploaded it?
If you wish to amend or resubmit your entry then we recommend that you firstly copy any answers that you have typed in response to the additional questions and save these outside the E-submissions system.
You will then need to withdraw your original submission following the steps above and re-enter again.
For any questions email bbcwriters@bbc.co.uk with your submission number.
How do I track the progress of my submissions?
To track the progress of your submission, sign in using your registered email address and password via the E-submissions . Once logged in, you will be able to see the talent searches which you have entered.
Each talent search or opportunity will show one of three states:
- Open: The submissions deadline has not yet passed. Entries are still being received. You may still withdraw your submission.
- In Progress: The deadline has now passed and the team are in the process of considering and assessing all submissions. We will contact you when there is an update on the selection process.
- Completed: The deadline has now passed, submissions have been considered and the selections for the opportunity have been made. You will have been contacted about which stage your submission reached.
You can click on each of your submissions for further details including details of any emails that you have been sent relating to the progress of that submission.
Please note that after the deadline for a talent search, we will communicate full details on your progress via the e-mail address which you have used to register. Check your email regularly (including your spam/junk folders) before contacting us, if you think you haven’t received an acknowledgement or other communication from us.
If you have done this and still need to get in contact regarding your submission please email bbcwriters@bbc.co.uk Make sure you provide us with your submission ID, script title, name and email address.
How do I update my details?
If you need to update your email address or any of your personal details, using the email address you previously registered with. Once logged in, click on your email address and select ‘Profile’ in the top right hand corner, and you can amend any of your details on your page. Once you’ve amended these, click 'Update' at the bottom of the page and your details will be updated.
What do I do if I have a problem with my password or logging in?
If you have previously created an E-submissions profile but have forgotten your details then go to the and click on the ‘Forgot Your Password’ link. You will be prompted to enter the e-mail address which you previously registered with, and the system will send a link to create a new password to that e-mail address.
If you're having problems logging in, in the first instance, please try refreshing your browser and try logging in again. Please check that you are using the correct email address and password which you registered with. If you are continuing to have problems, please email us with your details on bbcwriters@bbc.co.uk.
What types of documents do you accept?
PDFs are the only document format which our online submissions system will accept. We accept PDFs as they are secure documents which cannot be edited once we have received them and they are compatible with the reading devices which we will be using when assessing the scripts we receive. If you are using Microsoft word processing and do not know how to save your file as a PDF, please refer to Office Support. All software will come with its own user guidelines. We cannot offer technical support for third party software.
Can I submit a script by post?
No. We would strongly encourage all writers to submit their scripts to us using the online E-Submissions system. This is the platform we use to manage all of the scripts submitted for talent searches we are running. If for any reason you are unable to submit your script online please get in touch by email to bbcwriters@bbc.co.uk
What happens if there is a technical error with the system?
In the highly unlikely event of a technical error or issue with the E-Submissions system we will provide users with an alternative means of submitting entries to us. A message will be posted on the ±«Óãtv Writers website and on the to inform users about the issue.
We will then allow entries to be submitted by email, accompanied by a cover sheet which will be made available for download from the ±«Óãtv Writers website. Alternatively, we may extend the deadline to allow more time for posted entries.
How do you manage my data?
We require you to input your personal details, so that we can keep in touch with you about your progress within the talent searches you have submitted for. The ±«Óãtv will only ever use personal details for the purposes of administering a talent search. Please see ±«Óãtv Writers' Privacy Policy.
When you enter a talent search you will also be asked a series of equal opportunities questions before submitting your work – please note that these are optional, and it is possible to proceed with submitting your script without providing this information. If you choose to provide this information it is not linked to your profile within the E-submissions system.
