BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition

Contest · 2026Prestige 72/100Feedback included

BAFTA-backed new writing call. The 2026 strand is TV comedy, with three finalists showcased at BAFTA in London.

Deadlines & fees

Opens soon

The 2026 TV Comedy call has not opened yet and key dates are to be announced. Early Bird pricing (£58) applies to entries before 9 August, £65 after, with a limited number of free bursary places (applications close 17 August).

Dates and fees checked against the official site 14 Jul 2026.

Key facts

Formats: TV Pilot
Genres: Comedy
Page limit: 10 pages
Eligibility: UK residentsEmerging writers18+
Open to: United Kingdom
Required materials: Single PDF of up to 13 pages, sections in fixed order · One-line synopsis (max 25 words) · Series treatment (max 300 words) · Three episode guides (max 30 words each) · Extract introduction (max 100 words) · Anonymised script extract of up to 10 pages

Writers must be 18 or over by the final closing date, and at least one named writer must be a UK tax resident or hold a UK passport (a UK postal address alone does not qualify). Writers who have created, originated or been commissioned to write a television series for a major broadcaster or streamer are ineligible. Sitcom or sketch only for 2026; no dramedy.

Prizes

Three finalists receive a staged showcase at BAFTA in London during BAFTA's Screenwriting Month (November 2026), one year's complimentary BAFTA Connect access, a written Rocliffe Assessment, a Rocliffe Power Session and a copy of Rocliffe Notes for Screenwriters, with travel support. No cash prize.

Judging

Entries are read anonymously by paid Rocliffe readers, a panel selects a shortlist of roughly 10 to 12, and an industry jury picks three finalists. Criteria are originality, voice, character, storytelling, comic strength and potential as an ongoing series. Every eligible entry receives a written Rocliffe Assessment by November 2026, and readers are barred from using generative AI on submissions.

The PreList verdict

Rocliffe's pitch is the room: three finalists get their work performed by professional actors at BAFTA in London, in front of an industry audience, during BAFTA's Screenwriting Month. For an emerging UK comedy writer that showcase, plus a year of BAFTA Connect, is a genuinely career-shaped prize, and the competition's alumni record backs it up.

The honest part: there is no cash, the entry package is fiddly (a 13-page PDF with six sections in a fixed order, and invoices that must be paid within 24 hours), and the 2026 call has not actually opened yet, with published terms marked as guide-only until it does. The fee is £58 to £65, though free bursary places exist for writers who cannot afford it, which is more than most contests offer.

Enter if you write sitcom or sketch (that is the 2026 strand; no dramedy) and you are UK-connected. Every eligible entry gets a written assessment, so unlike most contests you receive something for the fee even without placing. Watch rocliffe.com for the opening; the early-bird rate runs to 9 August and bursary applications close on 17 August.

Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList · Updated 14 Jul 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the 2026 Rocliffe strand?

TV Comedy: sitcom or sketch only, no dramedy. The competition rotates across TV comedy, TV drama, children's media and film in other years.

How much does it cost?

£58 at the early-bird rate (entries before 9 August 2026), £65 after. A limited number of free bursary places exist for writers who cannot afford the fee, closing 17 August.

What do finalists get?

Three finalists have their extracts performed by professional actors at BAFTA in London in November 2026, plus a year of BAFTA Connect, a Rocliffe Power Session and travel support. Every eligible entry receives a written assessment.