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Applications are open for the BBC World Service & British Council International Audio Drama Competition 2026. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Opportunity Details
The global competition, hosted by BBC World Service and the British Council, offers the unique opportunity for writers from outside the UK to use the medium of audio drama to tell stories for an international audience.
Writers can enter in one of two categories: English as a First Language and English as a Second Language. The International Audio Drama Competition is run by BBC World Service and the British Council.
Winners will receive a cash prize, be invited to attend an award ceremony in the UK in 2026, and to participate in the recording of their dramas for a world premiere on BBC World Service platforms. Flight and accommodation expenses are covered by the BBC. A Special Commendation will be made for the runner-up in honour of the BBC World Service journalist and writer Georgi Markov (1929-1978).
Details of the "Prize": The Cash Prize and the Trip
1. Entry is only open to anyone who at 4 June 2025 is (a) over the age of 18 and (b) not considered to be a resident of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (“UK”). Professional and previously published writers are eligible to enter, but this is not a requirement of entry. We may require proof of eligibility.
2. Entrants must not be BBC, BBC Group company, or British Council employees, close relatives of such employees or any person connected to the competition. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.
3. Entrants should write an audio drama script of approximately forty to fifty minutes’ length on any subject of their choice.
4. The entrants warrant, by submitting scripts, that each drama
a) is the original work of the entrants and does not infringe the rights of any other party
b) is not an adaptation of an earlier work (for example, a novel)
c) will not be under contract for, or have been professionally produced in, any medium (an informal script-reading is acceptable; a script-reading with a professional director and in front of a non-paying audience is acceptable, but a performance involving payment to actors and/or a paying audience is not) before 30 September 2026
d) has not been created or developed with the use of generative AI tools
A breach of these warranties will result in disqualification from the competition.
5. The winning writers will be deemed to have entered into an undertaking not to accept offers for their entries from other broadcasters or publishers before 30 September 2026.
6. All scripts submitted must be approximately 40-50 minutes in length – this usually equates to a minimum of 35 pages of A4 paper (or equivalent) and a maximum of 60 pages (note, a rough guide is a minute per page; please read and time your drama before you send it). The drama should have a maximum of six central characters (there may be up to 3 small “doubling” characters too, who don’t have more than a few lines each). Word count approx. 7000-9000 words.
7. Your script should be accompanied by a short synopsis which outlines the complete story of the drama. This must be no more than 400 words.
8. There are two prize categories for entry. One is for entrants who speak English as their first language, and the other is for entrants with English as a second language. The BBC may require proof of eligibility for the selected category before announcing a winner.
9. The drama script must be written substantially or entirely in English. Unfortunately, we do not have the facility to offer a translation service. Entries that have been translated must acknowledge this fact by giving a credit to the translator or translators. Entries that have been translated will be entered in the English as a first language category.
10. For translated entries, it is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that the translated script fully complies with these rules and entry requirements. The entrant must have the right to enter into a contract on the translator or translators’ behalf as per Rule 14. No additional payment can be made by the BBC for translations.
11. The competition opens at midday GMT 19 February 2025 and closes on 4 June 2025. Entries must be received by 11.00 GMT on 4 June 2025. Entries received after this time will not be considered. Entrants are responsible for checking the equivalent closing time based on the time zones for their location.
12. Entries must be submitted in one of the following ways:
• By post to the following address: International Audio Drama Competition 2025, BBC Audio Drama Wales (1st floor CSq), Roath Lock, Porth Teigr, Cardiff, CF10 4GA, United Kingdom
• online at https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u197134676 by completing the online form
• by email to the following email address: [email protected]
13. All postal and email entries must be accompanied by a completed copy of the online entry form, which can be found here. All required boxes must be completed. Any data submitted as part of the entry may be processed in line with the Privacy Notice.
14. Entrants can enter individually or as part of a group. If entering as a group, all entrants must meet the entry requirements, be eligible for the same category and submit a single entry. No member should have also entered individually. Please note, the prize only includes payment for one airfare per category.
15. In the case of an entry by two or more writers, the BBC will need written or email confirmation from each writer involved that they are prepared to take a share of the prize money and are prepared to receive those funds from a nominee who will be one of the writers, as the prize money will be paid to one individual only. The nominee will be selected by the writers and it will be his or her responsibility to distribute these funds to the other writers and the organisers can take no responsibility for that aspect. As per Rule 8, there will be no additional payment from the BBC for translations.
16. Only one entry per person is permitted including any group entries. If you submit more than one entry, only the first entry received will be considered. Please do not submit plays you have entered to previous editions of the BBC World Service International Playwriting Competition.
17. You may choose to submit your entry under a pseudonym (which will be the name it shall be promoted and published under); however, you must include your real name on each entry for verification purposes.
18. A shortlist of up to 20 scripts will be sent to a panel of up to 6 judges. These are selected by invitation each year and usually comprise the Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service, English; the British Council Director of Theatre & Dance; Overseeing Producer, BBC Audio Drama; and an actor or director and a writer. Judges are issued with specific selection criteria and from these scripts, two dramas (from either category) will be chosen as winners.
19. The BBC accepts no liability if entrants (or parent/guardian as applicable) ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the BBC against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.
20. Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene or any other unsuitable material, such as that which may cause offence to a wide audience of all ages. Content should not contain excessive swearing or obscene language.
21. Entrants retain the copyright in their entries but grant to the BBC an exclusive licence to produce and broadcast their entry on all World Service audio platforms, including radio, podcast and online. Entrants will be permitted to reserve certain secondary rights in other media subject to BBC exclusive options.
22. As per Rule 8, there will be two categories of entry: one where English is the entrant’s first language, and one where English is the entrant’s second language. There are up to two Prizes, one for each category. The BBC reserves the right to not put an entrant forward for any stage in the judging process if in doing so it would, in the BBC’s absolute discretion, create or increase any risk of harm to persons or property or create a conflict with BBC Editorial Guidelines. The BBC will be responsible for making any travel and accommodation arrangements in respect of the Trip. Winners will be responsible for arranging their own visas and complying with other UK entry requirements. The BBC reserves the right not to pay the Cash Prize where payments to entrants are restricted by law. The winners should make themselves available for other BBC programmes and publicity. The prize is as stated and cannot be deferred or transferred. There will be no cash alternatives.
23. As with any new script, the BBC will require further drafts and revisions of the winning dramas. Winners must be willing and able to undertake redrafting and revision work in conjunction with the BBC and accept that they will work with the Producers on re-writes. This work is likely to take place between late November 2025 and late February 2026 and the winning entrants will need to keep time free, and remain contactable, to achieve this. This work will be completed with the winning entrant using email or the most suitable method available. We reserve the right to revoke a script’s prize-winning status if this work is not completed.
24. The BBC will reserve the right to make minor cuts, changes and edits to the winners' final draft scripts and all editorial control rests with the BBC.
25. You must inform the BBC if any character/s or situation/s in the drama relate to real situation/s or real people, either living or dead.
26. Subject to a satisfactory recording being made, the winning dramas are intended to be broadcast on BBC World Service in 2026. Winners will first be required to enter into a contract with the BBC on the standard terms and conditions applicable for broadcast of BBC Radio Drama, taking into consideration local applicable laws. No fee will be payable other than the £2,500 sterling offered as prize money for one broadcast cycle on the BBC World Service English radio service. If repeated on the World Service, a sum of £1250 sterling will be payable for the first repeat cycle and thereafter the BBC will have certain broadcasting and other rights all in accordance with the contract. No additional fees will be paid for distribution on other platforms, including online or as a podcast.
27. The BBC, British Council, their sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem which may result in any entry not being properly registered.
28. To the extent permitted by law, the BBC, British Council, their contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies will not be liable for any loss or damage (whether such damage or losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise) including financial, reputational loss or disappointment. This includes any entries that are lost or stolen in transit.
29. The promoter of the competition is the British Broadcasting Corporation. The applicable law is that of England and Wales.
30. This competition accords with the BBC's Code of Conduct for Competitions, details of which can be found on the BBC's Standards and Guidelines website: https://www.bbc.com/editorialguidelines/guidance/code-of-conduct
Entries must be submitted in one of the following ways:
All postal and email entries must be accompanied by a completed copy of the online entry form, which can be found here.
Apply for BBC World Service & British Council International Audio Drama Competition