Little Chick Productions, founded by BAFTA and Emmy award-winning writer Abi Morgan (The Split, Eric, Shame) and Emerging Talent Programme Director Dorcas Morgan, have announced the return of the Little Chick Emerging Writers Scheme: a television drama writing programme for early-career professional screenwriters. Following a highly successful pilot year in 2025 that featured 12 participants, the programme returns in 2026 in collaboration with WDM Entertainment and the Arvon Foundation. Applications are now open.

The 2026 Little Chick Emerging Writers Scheme is open to applicants across the UK and Ireland and will offer a selected cohort of writers a five-day residential retreat at Arvon, featuring intensive workshops, tutorials and guest speakers drawn from across the entertainment industry. Following the retreat, writers will enter a six-month guided development period, receiving sustained mentorship from Morgan and Sue Gibbs (Head of Development, Heyday Television UK) alongside one-to-one meetings, development resources and a final table read of their work. The programme also includes introductions and networking opportunities to help participants forge new relationships within the industry. The programme is open to writers who are at the earlier stages of their career with one or more professional credits (including short films).

Little Chick champions distinctive voices and ambitious storytelling. Morgan said, “Having worked with some of the leading film and TV production companies in the UK and US, the value of creative collaboration is at the heart of my work. Little Chick is committed to helping emerging talent find their voice and build creative partnerships that are the backbone of any career. We hope that our Emerging Talent Programme is one more step on that journey.”

In its inaugural year, Little Chick welcomed the first 12 writers to a retreat at one of Arvon’s idyllic writing houses in the UK, followed by further follow up and mentorship. The desire to bring this back for a second year is born out of ensuring the next generation of writing talent have an opportunity to tell their stories, as the industry continues to evolve.

Elisabeth Hopper, Head of Film Talent initiatives, WDM Entertainment, commented: “Supporting under-represented voices and next-generation talent is central to WDM Entertainment’s mission, and we’re proud to work alongside Abi and Dorcas Morgan on this truly meaningful programme that gives writers time, support and sustained access at a crucial moment in their careers. This initiative creates genuine opportunity, championing bold, original storytellers that reflect the audiences UK television serves.”

Natasha Carlish, Deputy CEO of Arvon, added: “Arvon is delighted to be continuing its partnership with Little Chick. It is a privilege to support a programme that offers such a meaningful opportunity to emerging screenwriting talent who might otherwise not have access to this quality of expertise. Abi Morgan’s own writing journey began at Arvon, which makes it especially fitting to welcome Little Chick back to The Hurst, our Shropshire writing house. Like Arvon, Little Chick is deeply committed to inclusivity and to championing writers from across the UK so their stories can be heard and seen on screen. The residential element of this programme has the potential to be a genuinely transformative and life-changing experience, and we are excited to see how the partnership continues to evolve in support of the screenwriters of tomorrow.”

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Categories: Press Releases

Tags: bafta, production, UK