The 2026 WBD Access x Waterloo Road Directors Programme aims to support and grow the pool of directors in the North of England. Waterloo Road, as a BBC commission, is ambitious to encourage career development and upskill creative talent.

The programme will be led by WBD’s Access team, in close partnership with the BBC, Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North.

Programme Description:

Through the WBD Access x Waterloo Road Directors Programme, twelve directors will be selected to take part in a series of virtual workshops designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge required for directing episodic television, focusing on Waterloo Road. Through tailored masterclasses, they will develop their creative and professional capabilities, culminating in an Engagement Day, where their creative thinking, leadership, and overall progress will be assessed for progression to the next stage.

Following the Engagement Day, up to six directors will be invited to attend a week-long, in-person intensive curriculum. The curriculum will be comprised of practical workshops covering directing an episodic series, technical skills, and but also the personal and professional skills essential for success, such as inclusive leadership on set and dedicated learning and development sessions. This will take place in Manchester in March 2026.

Following this, there may be opportunities for some of the cohort to shadow on Waterloo Road.

The programme will be led by the WBD Access team in partnership with BBC, Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North. Workshops will be led by two experienced episodic TV directors, Jude Weng (‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, ‘Matlock’, ‘Only Murders In The Building’, ‘Twisted Metal’, Ghosts’, ‘Frasier’, ‘Finding 'Ohana’) and Jesse Quinones (‘Waterloo Road’, ‘Inside Number 9’, ‘Cagefighter’, ‘Calloused Hands’).

Programme Criteria: To be eligible, applicants must:

· Be over 18 at the time of application

· Have directed no more than one episode of broadcasted scripted television at the time of application

· Have the right to work in the UK

· Not be in full time education

· Have their main residence in the North of England - defined as Yorkshire and Humber, North-West and North-East England.

· Must be available to attend anticipated programme dates for the virtual curriculum and in-person workshops (see below for programme dates)

Selection criteria

To be selected for the virtual curriculum you will need to demonstrate through video or written submissions and directing samples that you have:

· An enthusiasm and knowledge of scripted television; specifically with an awareness of Waterloo Road and Northern stories

· Long term career aspirations for episodic directing

· A creative track record in directing for narrative film, commercials and/or documentary that took place in the last three years.

Please note that professional theatre directors may apply but must also be able to provide at least one on-screen sample of narrative TV/Film that took place in the last three years.

Programme Timeline:

· Thursday 9th October 2025: Virtual Information Session (5:15 - 6:15PM BST)

· Friday 10th October 2025: Submissions Open

· Wednesday 5th November 2025: Application Submission Deadline (11:59PM GMT)

- Thursday 6th November – Monday 8th December 2025: 1st Stage Reviews based on submission of CV, bio, an intro video and responses to individual prompts.

- Tuesday 9th – Tuesday 16th December 2025: 2nd Stage reviews.

Please note, if you have been shortlisted for 2nd stage reviews, you may receive a pre-screen phone call from a member of the WBD Access team between Tuesday 9th - Tuesday 16th December 2025.

· Mid-December 2025: Notification Date (successful virtual curriculum applicants)

· Weeks commencing 2nd and 9th February 2026: Virtual Curriculum Delivery

Please note, the sessions will take place on the Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays of both weeks.

· Friday 13th February 2026: Engagement Day

· Mid-February 2026: Notification Date (successful in-person curriculum applicants)

· Wednesday 25th February 2026: Virtual Orientation / Prep for in-person curriculum

· Week Commencing 9th March 2026): In-person curriculum in Manchester

Dates subject to change.

Programme Outline

The Virtual Curriculum and In-Person workshopswill include the following key areas:

- Virtual Curriculum: over the course of two weeks, there will be 6 virtual sessions each taking place in the evenings for 2 hours. An industry practicing Director will cover essential skills for episodic directing.

- In-person Curriculum: This will comprise of 5 days of practical training; sessions with editors; casting directors; actors; crew members and the producing and story team for Waterloo Road. - Shadowing: Of the six participants involved in the in-person curriculum, a select number may have the opportunity to shadow an experienced Director on a block of Waterloo Road.