A writer from High Wycombe will be mentored by the creator of Doctor Who and Sherlock after winning a place in a coveted TV writing scheme.

Hannah Kennedy is one of six writers from across the UK to be chosen for the Jed Mercurio Mentorship Programme, a scheme thought up by Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio as a way to boost the prospects of budding screenwriters.

The programme was also designed to cater for those who might be underrepresented in media or feel out of the loop geographically from the industry’s London-centric tendencies. 

The mentees were chosen following a highly competitive process that saw nearly 1,000 applications from around the country.

Jed, who is also the brains behind the hit BBC series Bodyguard, personally recruited each of the mentors for the programme – with Hannah arguably getting the best deal of the bunch, with Doctor Who and Sherlock creator Steven Moffat set to be her port of call.

Hannah, who graduated with a distinction in their MFA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, submitted a science fiction script during the application process, which they will continue to develop – and hopefully secure a commission for – during the scheme.

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They said: “Being selected for the Jed Mercurio Mentorship Programme and mentorship from Steven Moffat is an immense privilege.

“Since I was seven years old, staring wide-eyed at the TV watching Doctor Who on a Saturday night, I have had a deep love and fascination with storytelling.

“Steven's work has been a source of inspiration for me since before I even thought of becoming a writer, and now the chance to develop my TV pilot under his mentorship is incredible. I am unbelievably grateful for this opportunity and the knowledge I will gain from working with such experts in their craft.”

Steven Moffat said: “My path into television writing started when Harry Secombe visited my Dad’s primary school for an episode of the Sunday night religious show, Highway. That ended up with me writing a children’s TV show called Press Gang.

"But my Dad has since retired and Harry Secombe is no longer with us (in religious broadcasting terms, he’s been promoted), so it’s all down to Jed Mercurio to provide opportunities for the new generation of mighty talent, wherever it happens to come from.

"I’m very excited to be part of this project and to be mentoring the very talented Hannah."