A PENARTH-based writer has landed a career-making opportunity to take part in a new mentorship scheme launched by creator of hit BBC TV series’ Line of Duty.
Azuka Oforka is among six writers from across the UK’s regions selected for the scheme.
The aim of the programme is to give greater opportunity to those who live outside of London and who are underrepresented within the UK’s TV industry.
The initiative has been launched together with Amazon MGM Studios UK, who share Jed Mercurio's ambition to champion diversity and inclusion in TV.
Jed, who also wrote BBC’s Bodyguard, has personally recruited the mentors for the programme, who bring a wealth of writing knowledge with them.
Azuka will be mentored by Emma Frost, who is a writer, showrunner and executive producer for film and television in shows like The White Queen, The White Princess and The Spanish Princess, and she also adapted Jamaica Inn for BBC One.
The mentees such as Azuka were selected following a highly competitive selection process, with the scheme receiving a total of 948 applications.
Jed and the mentors were impressed with Azuka’s sample script of her historic drama set in Elizabethan England, which she is now developing with support from her mentor, Emma.
Azuka’s writing career began at The Royal Court Theatre where she was a part of the Critical Mass Introduction to Playwriting course and the Invited Writers course.
Azuka has had a screenplay longlisted for the BBC Studios/Thousand Films ‘Thousand Stories’ competition and was shortlisted for the BBC Writer’s Room Drama Script Room 2021.
Her first play debuts at The Sherman Theatre in Cardiff in May.
On the huge break, Azuka said: “I am incredibly thrilled to have gained a place on the inaugural Jed Mercurio Mentorship Scheme.
“Making the shortlist alone and having my work read by all the mentors felt like a major win in itself, but to get picked to be a part of this incredible opportunity was a little mind-blowing for me…and still hasn’t fully sunk in yet!”
On Azuka, Emma said: “I was hugely impressed by Azuka's script, which shines with ambition and innate storytelling talent.
“In particular, her ability to write natural, characterful dialogue in a deep period setting without falling into any of the usual traps is striking.
“I have no doubt that Azuka will develop her craft very swiftly and become a successful and sought after new talent.”
On the programme as a whole, Line Of Duty creator Jed said: “There is such a wealth of writing talent across the UK regions, with unique perspectives and original stories that should be shared with audiences.
“Through this scheme, our aim is to support some of these new and diverse writers, who may have previously struggled to get a foot in the door of the TV industry, and help to bring those stories to the screen."
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