The Sitcom Mission

Eligibility and project requirements

The competition is open to anyone, and unusually it says so in exactly those words. Professional and produced writers are explicitly eligible. Scripts must be written primarily in English, be the entrant's original work, and run to no more than 20 pages formatted as a TV script for a 15-minute sitcom. The script must be self-contained but show series potential, with the organisers looking for sitcoms that could stretch to a minimum of six episodes. Sketches are not accepted, and a 30-minute script cannot be entered even as its first half. Co-written scripts and writing teams are allowed. There is no limit on the number of entries, each at its own fee. All scripts are read blind of any personal details. Winners agree to take part in post-competition publicity.

Formats

TV Pilot

Page limit

20 pages

Eligibility

Open worldwide

Deadlines & fees

Dates and fees checked against the official site 19 Oct 2026.

Prepare your entry

Prizes

No cash prize, and the rules define the prize itself as presentation at the industry showcase, which must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred or transferred. What you get instead is development and a room: rehearsed readings by professional actors, a public showcase, and for four scripts a smaller industry showcase in front of comedy commissioners from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Comedy Central and Sky, plus producers, agents and directors. Showcases are staged in London and travel is an unpublished cost. RIGHTS ARE CLEAN AND EXPLICIT: entrants retain copyright in their entries, with no option, first refusal, exclusivity or assignment anywhere in the rules, and personal details are never published or shared without permission.

Judging

Read blind by a team of readers, with judges named retrospectively rather than in advance. Previous judges include Lucy Lumsden of Yellow Door Productions, Tilusha Ghelani of Sky, Morwenna Gordon of Expectation, Tanya Qureshi of the BBC, Shane Allen of Boffola, Saskia Schuster of Fulwell 73 and the writer Andy Hamilton. A longlist of up to six scripts receives producer notes and at least a week to rewrite, repeating until the producers are satisfied with the standard, then a public showcase precedes selection of four scripts for the industry showcase. Governed by the law of England and Wales.

Frequently asked questions