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March 29th, 2011 23 comments

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Schools to Create New Doctor Who adventure

BBC calls on primary schools to help create new Doctor Who adventure

From the BBC Press office…

To herald the new series of Doctor Who, BBC Learning and Doctor Who Confidential today announced Script To Screen, an exciting competition that will give one lucky team of school children the chance to write their own Doctor Who mini-adventure starring the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith.

To win this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, school children aged 9 to 11 years will be encouraged to collaborate on a three-minute script that takes the resident Time Lord on a new quest travelling through space and time inside the TARDIS.

The lucky winners will travel to the BBC’s studios in Cardiff where they will see their script brought to life by the Doctor Who team and cast, including Matt Smith.

Doctor Who Confidential will also be on hand to take viewers behind the scenes to show how the script gets developed from paper to television screen – from the first script meeting, a cast read-through, on-set filming… all the way to the final edit.

Saul Nassé, Controller of BBC Learning, said: “Doctor Who is loved by children across the UK, and I can think of no better programme to inspire the next generation of story tellers.

“The Script to Screen competition is a fantastic way for children to learn new writing skills, whether or not they are winners. We are delighted that the stellar cast and crew of Doctor Who are on board for this journey of learning through time and space.”

Children can be as creative and imaginative as they like in order to put together a story that’s filled with all the excitement and adventure of the popular BBC One sci-fi drama.

The action-packed script must feature Matt Smith and can include one of four fearsome monsters/aliens from the show: Ood, Judoon, Cyberman or Weeping Angel, as well as a brand new human character to test the wits of the Doctor.

Tailored learning resources will be available on the BBC Learning website to help guide teachers and pupils through the process.

BAFTA winner and head writer at Doctor Who, Steven Moffat, will also offer his expert advice and helpful tips on how to pull together a stand-out script with memorable characters.

Steven Moffat said: “Doctor Who made me want to write. It made me fall in love in television, script-writing and storytelling, and led me by the hand to the best job in the world. It also made me want to defend the Earth from aliens but that hasn’t come up so often.

“I know the power this show has to set young imaginations alight, because I’ve lived it, so I’m incredibly excited to be involved in this project. Plus it’s never too early to start looking for your replacement.”

The winning script will be chosen by Steven Moffat, Saul Nassé and executive producers of Doctor Who, Piers Wenger and Beth Willis.

Full details of how to enter the competition, with the judging criteria and terms and conditions will be available on bbc.co.uk/teachers from 20 April 2011.

Downloadable BBC Learning resources will be available from 23 April 2011 and the closing date for entries Monday 13 June 2011.


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23 comments

  • the astronaut of death

    December 10th, 2013 - 9:28pm

    it is not that hard to find all you have to search is doctor who scroll down a small amount and BINGO!

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  • Intergalactic

    August 8th, 2011 - 10:46am

    I agree and not agree with you. Only gifted children can write good Doctor Who scripts, but that is just practice. That’s what a good writer is. They start practising when they’re young.

  • Intergalactic

    August 8th, 2011 - 10:44am

    Don’t worry. No Doctor Who fan would see that episode or whatever as canonical.

  • Intergalactic

    August 8th, 2011 - 10:43am

    Well children writing some sort of episode is bad. I will not be watching it, as I have said. I will act as if it has never happened.

  • Intergalactic

    August 1st, 2011 - 12:01pm

    I won’t be watching it. None of it will be canonical.

  • Intergalactic

    August 1st, 2011 - 12:00pm

    How many pages?

  • doctor who fan 5611

    May 31st, 2011 - 10:11am

    i have started my script

  • cybermat6

    April 1st, 2011 - 5:02pm

    dose that mean LANGLANDS too!because i hope so!

  • Scarves are awesome

    March 30th, 2011 - 8:08pm

    Who can say children are bad? episodes like Doomsday and The Pandorica Opens are regarded as good episodes and are just like the kind of ideas schoolkids come up with in the back of their workbooks.

  • Alex Charilaou

    March 30th, 2011 - 7:17am

    C@A you are ageist! Maybe children can write a more imaginative one than adults!

  • I Love Cybermen

    March 29th, 2011 - 10:15pm

    Just kids? I’m jealous! They get to play with cybermen if they want to!!! Make an episode with cybermen! I’m gonna explode with envy! Moffat, I agree Dr Who is a brilliant show for childeren…but do you HAVE to make me so jealous? God. First time I’ve been (slightly) negative about a Moffat idea. We love you Moffat!

  • C@A

    March 29th, 2011 - 8:03pm

    So we’ll end up with a far-fetched storyline very similar to another from the series, referencial, a sequel, with unnecessary and unrealistic dialogue? Children can’t write GOOD Who. They can come up with good ideas, but when it comes to writing… they should have given the teenagers a chance. Or maybe they think people who have grown up with Who since it was brought back are too mature for this… I’m not being offensive to you kids out here, but no matter how good you think you are, it just won’t do for an episode. Unless I’m wrong and this new generation of children are quite good writers?

  • DWFA100

    March 29th, 2011 - 7:08pm

    Yes I Can do it im getting it done

  • the silence

    March 29th, 2011 - 5:50pm

    i’m 12!nooooooooooooooooooooo!

  • Clara

    March 29th, 2011 - 5:31pm

    I’m 14 and have written two full-length Doctor Who Scripts.

    Mehhh D:

  • booboo

    March 29th, 2011 - 5:28pm

    Yes because applications all have to go via the BBC/Teachers site – best thing is to get your teacher and school involved if you want to do it

  • Louis

    March 29th, 2011 - 5:26pm

    I would love to enter but I don’t want to it with friends boo boo does it have do it in a team and does it have to be thoug a school

  • doctor stu

    March 29th, 2011 - 5:16pm

    i love to do this. i actually enjoy writing doctor who stories in my spare time. but im in year 8 so i cant do it

  • Josha

    March 29th, 2011 - 5:03pm

    9-11 year olds?! I’m sixteen!

    =[

  • doctor 24/7

    March 29th, 2011 - 4:59pm

    gr8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Juddon Master

    March 29th, 2011 - 4:56pm

    I really would like to have ago for I’d write a story where Sarah Jane and Jo are teleported aboard the Tardis by accident

  • chas

    March 29th, 2011 - 4:31pm

    coooool

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