Four diverse creators are to work up projects with BBC Studios in a scheme backed by Facebook owner Meta.
Black beauty specialist Shahira Allen, Lancaster-born sex worker Bea Dux, Irish presenter and disability Paddy Smyth and British-born Chinese food and travel content creatore Shu Shi Lin have each secured six-month placements to develop their ideas.
BBCS Talentworks is driving the initiative, with three of the four taking up residence with BBCS Productions Originals team and one with BBCS ScriptWorks.
The scheme scales up Meta’s established Diverse Voices Programme, designed to give a platform for creators from underrepresented groups. The Facebook and Instagram owner is funding the placements.
The projects:
Shahira Allen – an exploration of the modern-day history of ‘blackness’ in cities and towns across the UK
Bea Dux – a comedy-drama inspired by her own experience of entering London’s adult nightlife scene
Paddy Smyth – Do I Need To Be Fixed?: an investigation into whether disabled people should be ‘fixed’ by medical means
Shu Shi Lin – a show using food as a vehicle to talk about heritage, identity, history and body image
