Hello all

I posted one of these guides in someones script thread - But I thought it deserves it's own thread. Below are links to script format guides as found on the BBC website (I'm not suggesting these are right or wrong - merely for educational purposes for what the BBC look out for)

Also note, these guides appear to be 15 years old (The film one, anyway)

MODS: my search function on this site doesn't work too well, sorry if these have already been previously posted - If they have, I'll delete this.

Film - http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/screenplay.pdf
TV - http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/screenplaytv.pdf
TV (BBC) (live audience sitcom) -http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/bbctapedsitcom.pdf
TV (US) (live audience sitcom) - http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/threecamera.pdf

There are more, including stage and radio, at the following link - https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writers-lab/medium-and-format - if you scroll to the bottom you will find the format guides

Thanks for posting the links, Matt.

I checked out the screenplay format pdf and it all seems current. Only faux pas I noticed was the page number on page one. What's the deal with that rule anyway? Just customary? Why would it even matter?

Overall, it's interesting to see so many practices actually written down.

It's a useful resource, but if you then check out the sample script for multiple shows on the sites Script Library...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts

None of them conform to the format guides (that I've seen).

Probably because a lot of the BBC content is now produced by external production companies who format as they like.

No worries - I thought they would be a good starting point for newbies visiting the site.

I can't say I have ever noticed if page one has a number or not in the scripts I read - just doesn't seem important.

But I take the same approach to scriptwriting as I do with accountancy - best to learn the rules first before attempting to break bend them  ;)