Partnerships  

Each year, BBC Studios TalentWorks curates, produces and partners on a number of development events aimed at upskilling emerging talent.

Diving Bell Group

BBC Studios TalentWorks partners with leading talent management company Diving Bell Group, whose roster includes record-breaking international authors, award-winning influential digital creators and broadcasters.

BBC Studios has a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell clients, who are some of the most future-facing, change-making creators currently emerging in the UK, for the purpose of collaborating to develop these ideas and pitch for commissions.

Founded by Kim Butler and Justin Girdler in 2017, Diving Bell represents some of the UK’s most recognisable creators and innovators in the purpose-led space, including model, trans activist and cultural figure Munroe Bergdorf, who has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine; record-breaking feminist author, illustrator and influencer Florence Given (Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, Octopus); Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal; and Emma Gannon who’s careers podcast Ctrl Alt Delete has amassed over 10 million downloads.

IN THE MIX

BBC Studios TalentWorks and Black Creators Matter, along with the Barbican, have teamed up to launch IN THE MIX 2022, an inclusive and inspiring development experience for black content creators.

Through the partnership, four successful applicants will win a guaranteed BBC commission and produce a short film for BBC Reel (7-8 minutes) under the mentorship of experienced producers. The final films will be premiered at a red-carpet event at the Barbican in November 2022.

IN THE MIX 2022 will also see BBC Studios TalentWorks host a series of sessions at the Barbican, including insights from industry experts, a series of educational workshops and networking opportunities which creators can apply to attend.

BBC Reel – Fresh Takes

BBC Reel has teamed up with BBC Studios TalentWorks to create the first ever pilots season that will showcase some of the most exciting up-and-coming content creators on BBC Studios radar.

Working with x5 talented individuals we have created x5 very different pilot episodes for potential new series on BBC Reel. Each film varies in style, execution and topic. These will look to bring a fresh approach to our content, focusing on new, diverse voices and perspectives and engaging a wider, younger audience with BBC Reel. It’s also offered a great opportunity to collaborate with a strong group of talented emerging creators (Riyadh Khalaf, Kimberley Wilson, Max Tobin, Sophia Thakur and Basma Khalifa).

BBC Studios and Meta team up for new Creator Residencies

Building on the success of its Creator Residencies, BBC Studios TalentWorks has teamed up with Meta’s Facebook Creator Collective and Instagram Diverse Voices to offer four creators the chance to gain TV experience and skills, create original IP, and help accelerate their careers.

Funded by Meta, the residencies will see up-and-coming creators invited on to placements with BBC Studios, to gain first-hand experience and mentoring, as well as the opportunity to develop their own projects.

BBC Studios partners with Joe Sugg’s Final Straw Productions

BBC Studios has agreed a partnership deal with Final Straw Productions, the new production company set up by award-winning, much-loved digital creator, actor, author and entertainment personality Joe Sugg.

Final Straw Productions will focus on developing entertainment and factual entertainment formats for audiences of all ages. The development, production, and distribution deal will give BBC Studios a first-look on all its content.

Hear the latest from Final Straw Productions on Instagram.

BBC Writersroom

We hosted 2 x Talent Retreats, one scripted and one unscripted, in partnership with BBC Writers Room.

Scripted - We took eight bright stars in the digital talent space away on a scripted comedy writing retreat, learning everything from how to form a sitcom character, crafting a topical joke to just finding out the funny within you.

Talent included: Dan Howell, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Ediz Moustafa, Emma Gannon, Adrian Bliss, Emily Seale-Jones, Hazel Hayes and Taha Khan.

Unscripted - Ranging from chefs, to activists, to journalists, to comedians, to modern tastemakers and thought leaders... we are immersing everyone in the world of unscripted. 

Talent included: Gina Martin, Riyadh Khalaf, Megan Jayne Crabbe, Nadir Nahdi, Isaac Carew, Becky James, Kimmy Kimani Hobbs and Lotte Jeffs

Vidcon

Members of TalentWorks are on the advisory board of Vidcon, the world's largest event for fans, creators, executives, and brands who share a passion for online video.