The BBC and Stan have released first-look images for TEN POUND POMS, their major new drama series produced by Eleven.

The photos include lead cast members Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown, as well as Australian cast members Finn Treacy, Hattie Hook, David Field, Sophie Gregg, Cheree Cassidy and Rob Collins.

You can read the full press release here.

The participants for the 2023 BBC Writersroom Pilot scheme have been announced by the BBC.

The prestigious initiative (previously known as the TV Drama Writers’ Programme) partners 10 talented early-career screenwriters with 10 independent production companies, with a script-commission, giving the screenwriters the opportunity to write the first episode of a potential BBC-commissioned original drama series or serial.

During the year-long scheme, the writers will attend masterclasses and workshops with established television writers, production teams and experts in screenwriting, while developing their original script. The aim being that the writer’s series or serial will be taken into full development by the BBC.

After being partnered with Amy Trigg in 2022’s scheme, the BBC have announced that Eleven has been paired with Tom Melia for this year’s run.

Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing for BBC Drama Commissioning and BBC Writersroom, says: “We’re delighted to announce the participants for Pilot 2023, once again the team at BBC Writersroom has been overwhelmed by the incredible talent to be found across the length and breadth of the UK and we can’t wait to see how their projects develop under the careful guidance of the participating indies this year.”

Read the full BBC press release here.

Eleven is in development with Sky Studios, Lionsgate and British soul-pop artist Arlo on his debut TV project.

The series follows a young man in East London and the relationship between his working-class background and burgeoning success in the music industry.

David Ikechukwu, known publicly by his stage name Arlo, created the show with writer, director and actor Aki Omoshaybi. Omoshaybi is writing the series.

Lionsgate and Eleven’s involvement was announced in 2021. Lionsgate will handle global distribution on the series, with Eleven producing. Joel Wilson is executive producing, alongside former Lionsgate international acquisitions and co-productions exec Marc Lorber, and Arlo himself.

At the time, Wilson said: “Arlo and Aki are prodigiously talented, insightful people as well as being beautifully in tune when it comes to the story they want to tell together. It has been a real privilege to sit with them and watch this series begin to come to life.”

Read the full Broadcast article here.