About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a world-renowned content studio and channels & streaming business, powered by British creativity, with a reach that touches audiences in every corner of the globe.
We work with outstanding creative talent who are responsible for platform-defining shows from Strictly Come Dancing to Bluey, Eastenders, Casualty, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.
The range and quality of our content is unsurpassed, creating critical and commercial successes and global phenomena.
From BAFTAs to RTS Awards, BBC Studios is Britain’s most awarded production company and the only producer with three of the top ten shows on IMDB; we’re the home of bbc.com, the widest-read English language news website in the world; and the UK’s largest distributor of British content.
About BBC Studios Drama Productions
BBC Studios Drama Productions sits at the heart of the UK as our slate of award-winning soaps and dramas continue to bring audiences together week after week.
EastEnders, Casualty, River City and Pobol y Cwm remain a constant source of gripping entertainment, with addictive storylines and loveable characters year on year; as well as award-winning crime drama Silent Witness and our fabulous cosy crime shows Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Detectives and Sister Boniface Mysteries.
At BBC Studios Drama Productions, we’re passionate about developing and nurturing a creative and diverse workforce. We pride ourselves on providing some of the most supportive, hands-on editorial and production training opportunities across the whole of the UK.
The Role
Are stories your thing? Do you love watching soaps and have ideas and opinions about storylines you'd love to see on screen?
The Assistant Storyliner is an entry level role within the story team. In addition to supporting with administrative tasks such as making amendments, taking notes and updating databases, you will support the team to generate and develop new and existing stories and storylines.
Working alongside the Story Producer, Story Editor and Storyliners, you will contribute your own ideas as well as helping to shape and edit others. You will enjoy working to a brief and being creative; aware that we often work to tight deadlines and have limited budget. Importantly, you will be a fan of the show and have a good knowledge of current and past storylines.
We will be looking for evidence that you understand story and have fresh and exciting instincts about potential storylines for the show.
If you are selected to be in the pool you will be considered when Assistant Storyliner positions come up on Casualty. Unfortunately being in the pool does not guarantee you will end up working with us.
If you are offered a position on Casualty you will need be based in Cardiff for the duration of the contract. Unfortunately we do not cover expenses for this.
Main Responsibilities
- Support the creation and development of story ideas and storylines in line with the tone and style of Casualty
- Support the wider story team to produce the story planning document to a high standard against strict deadlines
- Support with the administration of notes and amendments through various drafts of the story planning document
- Support the wider team by providing research for potential storylines and character development
- Work collaboratively with colleagues from the Research and Script teams
- Attend long term story conferences, story meetings, planning and commissioning meetings. Actively listen and learn to support your development and understanding of the creative vision of the series
- Develop an understanding of the importance of diversity and how our content reflects a diverse society. Remain mindful of our commitment to representing all groups and communities when suggesting ideas or supporting the wider story team
What Does It Take?
- We’re looking for people who are passionate about story. This is an entry level position so you may demonstrate this through your own ideas and writing, or from professional experience such as working as a journalist or on a different type of drama such as theatre, audio or radio.
- You will know and enjoy Casualty and have opinions about our characters and storylines. You will have ideas about what works and what we could do differently, and you will be able to think analytically about the impact of new storylines on those already in place.
- You will have strong writing and communication skills – both written and verbal. You will be confident contributing ideas and articulating yourself in clear, concise and unambiguous prose, in keeping with the Casualty in-house style
- You will have a wider appreciation of soap generally. For people who love story, there’s no better place to work and we are looking for people who get that.
Story Team Talent Pools
The Casualty story team is essential to the show's success. Awarded the best British soap by BAFTA this year, we have increasingly high standards and want to work with exciting, innovative story talent who are as passionate about the show as we are.
These talent pools are an opportunity for us to reach out and engage with people who want to work in our story team.
If you are successfully selected to be in the talent pool it doesn't mean you will definitely end up working with us unfortunately. Being in the pool means you will be considered when opportunities come up.
The application process is designed so you get the chance to try out your skills on our storylines. If you are invited to an assessment centre you will also meet our producers and editorial team and can showcase your work to them as well as starting to build relationships.
If you are invited to work on Casualty you will need to be based in Cardiff for the duration of the contract, or live within a commutable distance. Unfortunately we don't provide financial assistance for this or cover expenses.
Life At BBC Studios
We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours here .
The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce, that represents the audiences we serve, and encourages applications from candidates from any background, especially people from diverse communities. Equity of opportunity is important to us, and we endeavour to make our processes equal, fair and meritocratic for everybody. More information on our D&I plan can be found here .
BBC Studios puts sustainability at the heart of everything we do both onscreen and offscreen, including delivering against the BBC Group’s science-based Net Zero targets. More information on sustainability at BBC Studios can be found here .
Package Description
Contract: Talent Pool (Appointment to the pool will not entitle candidates to contracts in the BBC and does guarantee work. If offered, contract length and type may vary)
Location: BBC Roath Lock, Cardiff
NEXT STEPS
We appreciate your interest in this position and understand how important this opportunity is to you. Due to the high volume of interest we may need to close the application period earlier than anticipated. This step is necessary to ensure we can provide a high level of attention and service to all applicants. Thank you for your understanding.
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT
As a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview." If you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please contact us on reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
