In April, BAFTA and Rocliffe set out in search of the UK’s most promising new comedy writers as part of a nationwide competition for brand new talent. From over 400 entries, three winning scripts were selected to be showcased in front of the cream of the US industry at the New York Television Festival (NYTVF). Five promising writers – John Sheerman, Nicole Paglia, Daniel Brierley, Neil Warhurst and Izzy Mant – will fly to New York courtesy of British Airways and on Thursday 23 October extracts of their work will be performed by professional actors in front of the Festival audience and Emmy-winning Stephanie Laing, producer and director of Veep and executive producer of Eastbound and Down who will give the writers feedback and guidance on their work.
Stephanie Laing is a five time Emmy nominated TV producer and director. She has produced some of the most popular series on HBO including the award winning comedy Veep, starring Julia Louis Dreyfus and the 2013 drama Banshee. Laing was also the executive producer on the HBO comedy Eastbound and Down, starring Danny McBride. In 1997, Laing won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role as a producer on Tracey Takes On.
