BBC Writers | Privacy Notice

BBC Writers Privacy Notice   

Your trust is very important to us. This means the BBC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such personal data. This privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal data about you during and after your relationship with us, in accordance with data protection law.  

Why are we doing this and how can you participate?

We want to see scripts that tell us about you, showcasing your talent, ability and voice.  Through our Open Calls we look for writers to develop. In particular we look for distinctive voices - and scripts that express those voices.

The BBC will collect and process the personal data that you have provided to us about yourself when submitting your scripts and other documents to BBC Writers using our E-submissions tool.

The BBC will also collect and process any personal data you share with us during the course of your participation in BBC Writers.

What personal data will BBC collect and how will we use it?

The BBC will collect and process the personal data for the following purposes:

• Assessing your script
• For diversity and inclusion purposes
• To communicate with you about your submission
• To keep you informed of opportunities
• To engage with you during BBC Writers development groups, as well as communicating with you once the group has ended
• To keep you informed of masterclasses and industry discussions 
• To process and repay your expenses (where applicable)
• To investigate any allegations of bullying or other types of misconduct you share with us
• To assess your eligibility for opportunities aimed at deaf, disabled and neurodivergent writers, such as the Writers Access Group programme within the Open Call

Personal data:

The personal data that the BBC will collect through the application form and your submission are:

• Your name
• Your age
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your country and area of residence
• Your agent's name, phone number and email address (if you choose to provide such information)
• Your CV, which includes information about your work experience, education, skills, contact details, and any other information that you choose to disclose in your CV.
• Any personal information that you choose to include as part of your submission, including in your written submission as part of your upload.

If you are successful and join a BBC Writers development scheme, then we will also ask you to provide us with emergency contact details.

Special category data

Special category data is information that reveals things such as your race or ethnicity, health, religious or philosophical beliefs, or sexual orientation. We do not generally require you to provide us with any special category data in your written work. If you choose to include special category data in what you write the BBC will collect and process it.

We may also process personal data relating to your disability in order to make adjustments for you when you attend a BBC Writers development group.

If you apply to the Writers Access Group programme, we will ask you to provide certain special category data as part of your application so that we can assess your eligibility. More information about how we use this information is set out below.

Writers Access Group programme (deaf, disabled and neurodivergent writers)

The Writers Access Group programme is open to writers who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. If you apply for this programme, we will ask you to confirm that you meet this eligibility criterion.

The information you provide about your disability or neurodivergence is special category data. We will collect and process it to assess your eligibility for the programme and to provide any adjustments or support you may need. This information will be linked to you and your submission for these purposes.

Who is the Data Controller? 

The BBC is the “data controller” of your personal data. This means that the BBC decides what your personal data is used for, and the ways in which it is processed. For the avoidance of doubt, your personal data will be collected and processed solely for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. As the data controller, the BBC has the responsibility to comply, and to demonstrate compliance with, data protection law.   

Lawful basis for processing your personal data 

The lawful basis on which the BBC processes your personal data is the performance of a public task.  For the processing of any special category data that you decide to share as part of your writing or submission, or that we ask you to provide to assess your eligibility for the Writers Access Group programme, the condition we rely on is that the processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest, in the exercise of the BBC's functions under the Royal Charter and the Equality Act 2010 (including the public sector equality duty in section 149).

The BBC has a public mission and purpose to develop new and emerging talent, produce creative output, ensure our content is balanced and that it accurately represents the diversity of our audience, including under the following statutes and rules of law:

• Equality Act 2010 including Section 149 - Public Sector Equality Duty.
• Royal Charter for the Continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation:

o   Section 4 - to reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions; and

o   Section 14 – Diversity.

•  Ofcom Framework Agreement - Purpose (4): Reflecting, representing and serving the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions.
• DCMS Broadcasting Framework Agreement – Schedule 3 Regulatory obligations for the UK public services – Section 12 – Equal Opportunities.

Where the BBC processes your special category personal data and any criminal offence data (if applicable) following a disclosure by another party, it is for reasons of employment or social protection law. This is due to the BBC’s obligations as a public broadcaster to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010.

The BBC may also process your special category personal data for reasons of substantial public interest, if we need to make reasonable adjustments for you. The condition which we would rely on in this instance is to support an individual with a specific condition or disability.

The lawful basis on which we sometimes share your personal data with third-parties is legitimate interest in providing you with information on additional opportunities. Please see “Sharing your personal data” for more information.

Sharing your personal data  

The BBC works with our approved third-party providers who help us to provide some of our services. These partners only use your personal data on behalf of the BBC and not independently of the BBC. We use an online platform to collect and store your submission. From time to time BBC Writers will partner with BBC Studios and various independent production companies and will open and host these opportunities on this platform. 

Depending on who we are running the opportunity with, the BBC will share your personal information and scripts with these third parties. Each opportunity will specify who the third party is. At the point at which the BBC shares your scripts and personal information with such third parties they will act as separate controllers of your personal information and scripts. 

To ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities to continue to develop your skills and talent we occasionally share your contact details with agents, producers, and other independent production companies who are seeking talented writers. 

To find out more about how those third parties will manage your personal information please read their privacy notice or policy. 

We may share personal data with a third party where required or permitted by law.   

Retaining your personal data  

The BBC will retain your personal data for a period of seven (7) years following your last submission to one of our writing opportunities, after which it will be deleted in accordance with BBC policies. The seven (7) years retention period will reset each time you enter one of our opportunities. 

We will retain any criminal offence data about you in accordance with the BBC Corporate Retention Schedule. 

You can delete your account at any time, which will automatically delete all your personal data. 

Your personal data will be stored in the UK and the EEA (European Economic Area).   

Your rights and more information 

You have rights under data protection law:  

• You can request a copy of the personal data BBC stores about you.  
• You have the right to request that we rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal data that we hold about you.
• You have the right to ask for the personal data we collect about you to be deleted, however there are limitations and exceptions to this right which may entitle the BBC to refuse your request.  
• In certain circumstances, you have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data or to object to the processing of your personal data.  
• You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal data to you or to another organisation, in certain circumstances.   

Certain rights may be restricted in specific circumstances, including where personal data is processed for journalistic, artistic or literary purposes and the legal requirements for an exemption are satisfied.

You can contact our, Data Protection Officer if you have questions or you wish to find out more details about your rights, please visit the BBC’s Privacy and Cookies Policy at http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy.  

If you have a concern about the way the BBC has handled your personal data, you can raise your concern with the supervisory authority in the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) https://ico.org.uk/.  

Updating this privacy notice 

We will revise the privacy notice if there are significant changes to how we use your personal data. 

(Updated 30th September 2026.)