Fancy being a Script Editor on Doctor Who Series 11? You may be in luck…
It’s strange, isn’t it? With Doctor Who, you just presume that everyone in the TV industry is scrambling for a job and that the production team wouldn’t need to advertise vacancies – they’d surely headhunt whoever they wanted. But apparently not: the BBC has posted an opportunity to be a Script Editor on its Careers page.
Of course, there are plenty of stipulations. You have to have experience with long-running drama; be familiar with screenwriting software; and recognise copyright law, Writers Guild agreements, contracts, and legalities of the production process. The Beeb describes the job’s responsibilities as:
“The purpose of the role is to ensure that commissioned storylines and scripts are of the required standard, conform to the editorial brief and are available for use at the appropriate time. You will advise on all script related matters associated with the production, help manage the relationship between the writer and the production and to generate creative ideas and story ideas of the highest standard consistent with the series.”
Of course, the successful candidate will work alongside the Executive Producers, Chris Chibnall and Matt Strevens; relatively recent Script Editors on the show include Brian Minchin, Derek Ritchie, and Nick Lambon.
But what is interesting is an apparent confirmation that Doctor Who will continue to be produced at BBC Cymru’s Roath Lock Studios, Cardiff – for 12 months, potentially longer. Cardiff has been the home of the show since Russell T. Davies revived it, as announced in 2003, but recently, there have been rumours that it’d move to Manchester. This is perhaps down to incoming showrunner, Chris Chibnall supposedly severing ties with what’s gone before (behind-the-scenes, at least), and the fact that the lease on the Doctor Who Experience (the studio’s neighbour) running out this month.
That speculation has been denied in the past, but you never really know. This does appear to be the first proper indication that the show will continue in Wales.
If you’re looking to apply for that Script Editor job, your application has to be in by 3rd September 2017, so you don’t have very long at all. Good luck!
