Trainees selected for this year’s Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme will be placed on BBC Studios’ key dramas Doctors, Holby City, Casualty and, for the first time, River City. 

BBC Writersroom, Creative Skillset and Directors UK are delighted to announce the names of this year’s trainee directors for the Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme.

Now in its second year, the scheme is building on its successful debut year and expanding its regional reach, and for the first time, trainees will be placed in BBC Studios’ River City; the remaining trainees will be placed on Doctors, Holby City, and Casualty. All dramas are produced by BBC Studios.

• Doctors: Isher Sahota, Jennie Padden, Miranda Howard-Williams
• Holby City: Christiana Ebohon-Green, Samantha Harrie
• Casualty: Imogen Murphy, Karen Kelly
• River City: Sacha Kyle, Robin Haig

As part of their training, each director will spend time on one of the BBC’s continuing drama shows, observing and participating in the entire production process of an episode, from pre to post production. The candidate will complete their training by directing a full episode of the show they’re training on.

The scheme attracted over 300 applications from some of the country’s most exciting and innovative emerging directors. Their work was rigorously viewed and assessed by Drama directors and Producers, including Anne Edyvean (Head of BBC Writersroom), Simon Nelson (Development Producer, BBC Writersroom), and a team of experienced TV directors and BBC Executives, who are today, delighted to announce the names of successful candidates.

Oliver Kent, BBC Studios’ Head of Continuing Drama, says: “The Continuing Drama Directors' Scheme is a superb way for us to nurture and guide the great directing talent of the future and I am delighted that such an exciting and talented group of directors will be working on the BBC’s most popular dramas.”

Andrea Corbett, Training and Career Development Manager at Directors UK, says: “Directors UK is pleased to be working with BBC Writersroom and Creative Skillset again on this initiative to develop the careers of directing talent. Projects like this are vital if we are to achieve a workforce that is truly representative of our talent and experience. Our new programme aims to inspire and provide members with better access into networks and opportunities, through shared the knowledge and experience. ”

Kaye Elliott, High End TV Lead, Creative Skillset, says: “Ensuring a talented and skilled pipeline of drama directors is vital for the future of the industry and maintaining the UK’s position in providing a highly skilled workforce for domestic and international productions to access. This initiative demonstrates the positive and exciting outcomes from aligned partnerships with broadcasters and training providers and we are delighted to engage and support the Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme.”

This scheme is funded by the BBC, Directors UK and the High End TV Levy, administered by Creative Skillset, and is run by BBC Writersroom in co-operation with BBC Studios.