BBC Worldwide Press Releases

On hearing the news on her birthday a delighted Susie said: "This is the most brilliant birthday present ever! I am still in shock and I don’t think it has really sunk in yet. I worked really hard on my book, but had tried not to get my hopes up too much as I knew the other five finalists’ books were also very good. I’ve dreamed of becoming a children’s author for many years and now I’m looking forward to the future and can’t wait to see the book when it is published."

The scheme was developed by BBC Talent and BBC Worldwide children’s publishing to find a new talent in children’s writing for 7 to 11 year olds. Applicants were asked by BBC Talent to send the first chapter of their novel, together with character profiles and a plot outline.

Selected from over 4,500 entries to the scheme, Susie was chosen as one of six finalists last October and received £2,000 from BBC Worldwide to finish writing her book by January this year.

The six books were judged by a panel including highly acclaimed children’s author Jacqueline Wilson; Caroline Raphael (Commissioning Editor, Radio 4); Elaine Sperber (Executive Producer, BBC Children’s Drama); Lizo Mzimba (CBBC presenter); and Siobhan Williamson (BBC Worldwide).

Jacqueline Wilson said: "It was exciting and enjoyable being part of the judging team, and I am thrilled we found such an original and impressive winner."

The Manhole is a fantasy adventure story about a little boy called Bill who finds that falling down is about the only thing that he is good at. But when he falls down a manhole 300 miles deep one Tuesday afternoon, he faces more than a torn trouser leg and a telling off from his mum. Accompanied by a scruffy princess, a pompous alien, a perpetually happy "elph" from the greenlands and an antelope, Bill (and his enormously long and stripy scarf) embark on a great adventure.

Sue Tarsky, Publisher, Children’s Books, BBC Worldwide said: "I am very excited to be publishing The Manhole. I think that we’ve discovered not just a great book, but a whole new voice in children’s publishing. There is so much talent out there, and I feel privileged to have discovered some of it during the scheme. Not only are we publishing The Manhole, but two of the other finalists’ books are also under consideration for publication."

Angie Stephenson, Head of BBC Talent, added: "We were really delighted with the calibre of entries that we received. The Children’s Fiction Prize scheme was a new venture with BBC Worldwide and BBC Radio 4 which proved extremely popular. I am thrilled that Susie has been given such a fantastic opportunity."

Notes to Editors
BBC Talent was launched in 2000 as part of the BBC’s continued long-term commitment to find and nurture the nation’s new talent.

BBC Talent launch the third year of their campaign on Thursday 7 March, offering people the opportunity to get their first break in the business. This year the search is on for talented individuals across 16 key areas.

BBC Worldwide’s sales from children’s brands and properties reached £90 million in the financial year 2000-2001.

The BBC generates supplementary income to support its domestic services by marketing its programme-related products and services through its main commercial arm, BBC Worldwide. No licence fee money is used in developing these activities, and strict fair-trading regulations apply between the public service and commercial arms of the BBC.

BBC Worldwide is:
· The UK’s biggest seller of children’s media-based products
· The world’s biggest tv channel operator based outside the US
· Europe’s biggest exporter of television programming
· The UK’s third largest publisher of consumer magazines
· The UK’s leading spoken word audio publishers
· The UK’s leading non-film DVD distributor
· One of the UK’s leading non-fiction book publisher

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