Script Producer

Are you passionate about Drama? Do you have experience as a Script Producer? Ready for the opportunity to progress your career? Then this is the role for you!

It’s an exciting time to be part of our team with all of our award-winning Continuing Dramas that brings audiences together week after week. From EastEnders, Doctors and Casualty to River City and Pobol y Cwm, our programmes remain a constant source of gripping entertainment, featuring cliff-hanger storylines and much-loved characters with whom our viewers have grown up.

EastEnders is the multi award winning soap broadcast four times a week on BBC ONE. It currently ranks as one of the most watched TV dramas in the UK tackling many controversial and taboo issues previously unseen on television in the UK. Through great writing and attention to detail the show manages to successfully balance gritty realism with high drama and entertainment to keep its millions of dedicated viewers coming back for more, on-screen and on-line, every week.

Role Responsibility

Under the management of the Series Producer, you will have overall responsibility for ensuring that the editorial vision of the Executive Producer is maintained within scripts, with all notes being addressed at the various stages of development from the Executive Producer and Series Producer, in conjunction with the storylines. You will also be responsible for the editorial quality of all scripts in development including reading selected drafts of every episode and the generation of creative ideas, helping to solve any story issues that may arise during the draft process.

You are required to be the first point of contact for all writers and writers’ agents, establishing and building on existing relationships with agents and maintaining the standard of writers. You should also have an up-to-date awareness of emerging talent, and have an up to date knowledge on BBC Studios’ targets for Diversity.

Within the role, you will be expected to highlight and communicate to the Series Producer any script which should be considered for a re-brief, or which might have to be pulled or relevant changes. In the event of a problem with a writer it will be your responsibility to deal with the writers and agents, ensuring proper feedback is given. 

You will inform the Business Affairs Executive for literary copyright, Line Producer and Accountant about commissions and confirmation of delivery so that payments can be made. Working with the Line Producer, you will manage the Script writing budget across the series. There is also the expectation that you will police all drafts of scripts for conformity with BBC Editorial Policy and ensure that delivery dates and all changes to existing dates are clearly visible to all of the editorial team.

Within the team, you will be required to develop and line manage a team of Script Editors on a day to day basis including managing performance and annual appraisal, recruitment and contract renewal and managing any change as and when the business requires it.

During shoots, you will be expected to be a senior member on the floor to troubleshoot and help solve any issues that may arise and will be accountable with other Producers for the maintenance of health & safety standards throughout the production process. 

The Ideal Candidate

It is important you have the necessary skills we are looking for:

• Significant television drama experience including extensive Script Editing
• Awareness of audience needs, and the ability to respond with original and viable production ideas
• An understanding of Copyright law, and Writers Guild agreements, knowledge of corporate conditions of service, equal opportunities and health and safety policies, BBC’s Editorial
• Guidelines, Recruitment and contracting process and the legal implications of the production process
• Experience of working with Writers under pressure
• Proven ability to influence and resolve differences in professional opinions, particularly where conflict may exist
• Effective negotiating and management skills and experience of leading and motivating teams
• Thorough knowledge of established writing talent, script sources and the availability and potential of emerging talent
• Experience of reconciling artistic aspiration with financial constraint to deliver programmes on time and within budget
• A proven awareness, enthusiasm and interest in popular television drama, with specific relevance to Continuing Drama. A passion for drama and in-depth knowledge of EastEnders is essential