Bad Wolf and Screen Alliance Wales announce the four screenwriters selected for the inaugural Blaidd Writers Programme. The four Wales-based writers will be mentored by award-winning showrunners Russell T Davies, Marnie Dickens, Jack Thorne and Sam Vincent & Jonathan Brackley and receive a pilot script commission from ‘Industry’, ‘His Dark Materials’ and ‘Doctor Who’ producer Bad Wolf. With over three hundred and fifty scripts submitted, Bad Wolf has announced the four successful participants of its first Blaidd Writers Programme, an annual paid development and training initiative founded to find and nurture the next generation of Welsh drama writers, in collaboration with Screen Alliance Wales (the Bad Wolf-founded not-for-profit training initiative) with support also from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales. The scheme, launched to coincide with Bad Wolf’s 10th anniversary, aims to amplify new Welsh voices, and reflects Bad Wolf’s commitment to shaping the future of television storytelling in Wales. The programme will see the four writers develop an original, contemporary Wales-set returning drama with Bad Wolf. The writers will also be mentored by screenwriters Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, National Treasure), Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, It’s A Sin), Marnie Dickens (Gold Digger, Wilderness) and Sam Vincent & Jonathan Brackley (Humans, Better) and will take part in masterclasses with industry professionals, including the co-creators of HBO and BBC’s hit drama Industry, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay and BAFTA award-winning screenwriter and In My Skin creator Kayleigh Llewellyn. The 2025 Blaidd Writers Programme cohort are: Faebian Averies is a two-time award-winning writer who won the Wales Writer in Residence Award in 2020 and then the Imison Award in 2022. Faebian topped the Brit List in autumn of 2024 with a record-breaking number of votes for her crime drama The Rubber Faced Men which is currently under option with NBC Universal. She is also under option with Kudos and Two Brothers for original ideas and has several writers rooms lined up for 2025 including one for an adaptation of a highly popular YA franchise. Faebian is originally from Penarth and has recently moved back from London to live in Wales. Emily Burnett is a BAFTA-winning actor and filmmaker. Her short film, Mother’s Day, premiered at London Film Festival and her radio play H Is For Hair was commissioned by BBC Radio Wales. Emily was 2nd Unit Director on Quay Street Productions’ new BBC Drama, The Guest. Her original play Nuclear, commissioned by Theatr Clwyd, is set to stage in 2026. Emily is currently developing her original drama pilot A Pretty View with Duck Soup. Emily was part of the BBC Writer’s Room Welsh Voices and she was mentored by Abi Morgan as part of the Literature Wales Development Programme. Alyn Farrow is a Cardiff based writer with a passion for contemporary Welsh storytelling. Having previously featured on the Brit List with subversive crime drama Westphalia, he is also a former winner of the BAFTA Rocliffe Drama Award and has been shortlisted for a BAFTA Cymru (Best Short Film) and BBC Wales Drama Award. Alyn is currently developing multiple projects with Firebird, Temple Hill, Gaumont, Two Brothers and Merman, and his broadcast credits to date include Silent Witness. Mared Jarman is the recipient of both the BAFTA Cymru Breakthrough Award and the RTS Cymru Rising Star Award for her BBC 3-parter How This Blind Girl… which she wrote and starred in. She won a BAFTA Cymru Best Factual Award for presenting The History of Disability in Wales for S4C and BBC Wales. She’s also developing a short form series for BBC Wales. Mared’s other work includes Byth Bythoedd Amen, which she wrote and is starring in for Theatr Cymru, Hero of the People at the Sherman Theatre and Yr Amgueddfa / Museum for S4C and the BBC. The writers were announced last night at an event at Wolf Studios Wales in Cardiff to celebrate Welsh screenwriting talent. The cohort will begin work with Bad Wolf on the development of an idea from pitch to broadcast-ready script, supported throughout by Bad Wolf script editors and producers, as well as regular guidance and feedback from Bad Wolf CEO Jane Tranter, and Director of Content Dan McCulloch. The writers will have the opportunity to shadow any ongoing productions at the studios and will be able to gain an insight into the wider development and production process intended to equip them with the skills and experience required to help them advance to the next stage of their writing career. The course will end with a networking graduation drinks reception in Cardiff and advice as to how to take forwards the scripts they have worked on during the scheme. Jane Tranter, CEO of Bad Wolf and Dan McCulloch, Director of Content, said: “The calibre of talent that applied for Blaidd was inspiring and has reinforced Bad Wolf’s desire to continue championing Wales, its creative community, writers and its stories. Bad Wolf is very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Faebian, Alyn, Emily and Mared and we’re grateful they have trusted us to embark on this journey with them. In our industry we’re often expected to learn by doing. With Wolf Studios on their doorstep our aim is for Bad Wolf to be the writers’ second home - an environment where they can experience both development and production and gain a 360 view of the business. The launch of Blaidd is a brilliant way to kick-off Bad Wolf’s tenth anniversary year, and we’re hugely grateful for the time, support and commitment of the mentors to give the writers such an exceptional experience. By our twentieth year we hope to have supported many more Welsh voices through this scheme!” Allison Dowzell, Managing Director of Screen Alliance Wales, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved in the Blaidd Writers Programme and to see such exceptional Welsh talent being nurtured and celebrated. Supporting local creatives and helping them take the next steps in their careers is at the heart of what we do at Screen Alliance Wales. This collaboration with Bad Wolf and the Welsh Government exemplifies the commitment to fostering a thriving creative industry in Wales, and we are thrilled to play a part in shaping the future of Welsh storytelling.” About Bad Wolf Since launching in 2015, Bad Wolf has produced an ambitious slate of award-winning high-end dramas including 3 seasons of Industry and 3 seasons of His Dark Materials for HBO/BBC; 3 seasons of A Discovery of Witches for Sky/AMC; 2 seasons of I Hate Suzie for Sky/HBO Max and ITV’s hit thriller Red Eye which has been renewed for a second season. In 2023 and 2024 Bad Wolf produced the 60th Anniversary and Christmas specials of Doctor Who and a new season with 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television. Projects currently in post-production in 2025 include upcoming BBC drama Dope Girls, S2 of Doctor Who and The War Between the Land and the Sea. Sony International Television acquired a majority stake in the company in 2021. About Screen Alliance Wales Screen Alliance Wales is the gateway between the industry and its workforce. It grows and promotes talent, crew and services of the film and TV industry in Wales. SAW is unique and will become the industry standard in promoting the complete supply chain from one single place. Screen Alliance Wales is a not-for-profit organisation that recognises the global potential of the film and TV industry in Wales.