BBC Studios Drama Productions has revealed the writers and directors selected for its TalentWorks initiatives on the BAFTA-winning BBC medical drama Casualty.

The Casualty Directors’ Scheme 2024 was designed to allow nine established directors to learn how to direct Casualty, across two bootcamp weekends at the show’s home in Roath Lock, Cardiff. Up to four successful candidates will then be chosen to direct an episode, with the support of an established mentor director.

The participants are Matt René, Zah Ahmad, Mingyu Lin, Richard Pask, Helen Iley, Gareth Evans, Phoebe Barran, Nick Alexander, and Michelle Wheatley.

The bootcamp weekends were held in April, with Casualty’s Senior Producer Mat McHale helming the course, alongside show director Cóilín Ó Scolaí.

Meanwhile, The Writers’ Studio: Casualty is an open script call for screenwriting talent looking to take the next step in their writing career and join the ranks of the Casualty writing team. The writers were given the opportunity to write paid shadow scripts and up to three will be commissioned to write an episode.

The participants are Sarah Brown, Angela Franklyn, Alan Flanagan, Annabel Wigoder and writing partnership Zak Ghazi-Torbati and Kate Reid.

The cohort have just delivered their first drafts of their shadow scripts and will be working closely with Script Producer Sarah Beeson throughout the process.

Kris Green, Training Executive for BBC Studios Drama Productions, says: “The calibre of applications we received for these extraordinary and unique Casualty initiatives were extremely high – and made the shortlisting incredibly hard! We’re delighted to be working with such strong writers and directors and we’re delighted to be able to forge opportunities for an exciting cohort of new voices to join the team at the show’s home in Wales.”

BBC Studios Drama Productions is committed to finding and developing the best on and off-screen talent as part of its industry leading training portfolio, bringing together, nurturing and championing the next generation of British storytellers.

The multi-award-winning medical drama Casualty is one of the UK’s longest running TV shows and is broadcast on primetime BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It is filmed at BBC Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.