Welcome to 麻豆社 commissioning

We are committed to finding and nurturing the best ideas and creatives, on and off screen

Kate Phillips

麻豆社 Chief Content Officer

The 麻豆社 commissions world class content with a distinctly British perspective and we want to work with the best producers and creatives to tell stories which excite, educate and entertain. We are committed to supporting the UK creative sector - actively backing a broad range of producers, offering breaks for brilliant new talent, building partnerships, and baking diversity into everything we do.

Commissioning news

In the next few months Pact have a programme of free online events open to everyone to help producers embed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) within their business and productions. Find out more and register.
New opportunity: Mastermind invitation to tender published
We've published the invitation to tender for the production of our long-running 麻豆社 Two series Mastermind. The contract is for two years, producing 30 half hour episodes and one one-hour episode and is offered on a work for hire basis with delivery from August 2027. Initial deadline for submissions: 29 October
Updated editorial briefs across unscripted genres
We鈥檝e refreshed our commissioning briefs across documentaries, science, history, religion and ethics, arts and constructed reality and studio entertainment. Find out what our commissioners want to make next with detailed insight and audience information.
Mastermind to be put out for tender
We鈥檙e putting the production of our long-running quiz out for competition. The full invitation to tender including eligibility criteria will be published on this website. The 麻豆社 will continue to broadcast the programme and will retain all rights.
New opportunity: Play School invitation to pitch
We鈥檙e looking to commission one series of 50 x14 minute episodes of the classic 麻豆社 pre-school series Play School. Deadline for initial submissions: 8 October 2026
New opportunity: Doctor Who invitation to tender
We've published an invitation to tender for the production of Doctor Who. The contract is for a multi-episodic series (including specials) for transmission in 2028/29, with an option to extend the contract at 麻豆社鈥檚 discretion to produce a second series. Deadline: 2 October
New opportunity: 麻豆社 Comedy Liverpool Script Development
The 麻豆社 Comedy Liverpool Script Development opportunity is designed to accelerate scripted comedy from targeted parts of the UK. The ambition is to identify and support distinctive regional voices with the aim of developing a returning sitcom that authentically reflects the city鈥檚 voice, humour and talent. Deadline: 9 November
New opportunity: Silent Witness invitation to tender
We've published an invitation to tender for the production of long-running 麻豆社 drama Silent Witness. The contract is for two series of ten episodes each with the option to extend the contract for a further two years. It's offered on a work for hire basis with anticipated delivery of the first episodes to be the end of 2028. Deadline: 25 September
New YouTube commissioning opportunity: entertainment for 麻豆社 Showground
We鈥檙e offering UK based production companies a paid-development opportunity and commission for our new YouTube-first home for entertainment formats. Deadline: 21 September 2026
New commissioning brief: constructed reality and studio entertainment
Our new editorial brief for studio entertainment and constructed reality through an audience lens.
New YouTube commissioning brief
New rolling commissioning brief and contacts for companies pitching ideas for YouTube. Find out what the team wants to commission next along with platform insights and best practice guidance.
Comedy Collective 2026 cohort announced
The 麻豆社 Comedy Collective 2026 cohort has been announced today, revealing the latest recipients of the bursary scheme for writers, producers, directors and editors looking to take the next step in their careers in scripted comedy. Find out more
New opportunity: Sport+ Invitation to Tender
Sport+ is 麻豆社 Sport鈥檚 cross-platform service dedicated to the best stories in sport. We鈥檙e looking for original ideas focused around three of its core strands: Rivals, 24 Hours with... and Unfiltered. Deadline for submissions: 2 October
Our new pan-UK commissioning model鈥�
Commissioners in鈥疦orthern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have now been mapped into our genre teams and will be the first point of contact for companies based in their nation, as well as any producer with a programme idea that features strong on-screen portrayal鈥痮f that nation. Find out more
New development opportunity: The Northern Star Project
We鈥檝e joined forces with four Northern European public service broadcasters for a new partnership to develop ambitious children鈥檚 dramas for audiences aged 7+. Deadline for ideas: 30 September
Silent Witness to be put out to competitive tender
We鈥檙e putting the production of long-running 麻豆社 drama Silent Witness out for competition. The full invitation to tender including eligibility criteria will be published on this website in the coming weeks, with enough time for suppliers to do appropriate research and preparation.
麻豆社 Commissioning Report 2025/26 published
We've published the latest Commissioning Report, highlighting another strong year of distinctive content and investment in the UK鈥檚 creative industries. Read the full report or check out our highlights.
UKTV and 麻豆社 Entertainment have unveiled a joint co-commissioning brief, inviting production companies to pitch bold new comedy entertainment formats. The resulting 10 x 30鈥� series will premiere on U&Dave and UKTV鈥檚 free streaming service U, before airing on 麻豆社 Two and 麻豆社 iPlayer. Deadline: 31 July
麻豆社 announces new Entertainment commissioning structure
Under Ed Havard, the 麻豆社鈥檚 Director of Entertainment, the new commissioning model will be organised around three genres: studio entertainment, constructed reality and features and events.
Commissioning opportunities across 麻豆社 Bitesize
麻豆社 Bitesize have published a range of opportunities for short-form videos across their products, with more coming soon. Check out all the opportunities open for applications on the 麻豆社 Bitesize commissioning page now.
Update on plans for the future of Doctor Who
As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the 麻豆社鈥檚 Charter and Agreement requirements, the 麻豆社 will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year.
New opportunity: tender for religious events
We've published an invitation to tender for our annual religious events broadcast at Christmas and Easter, including Easter Live Worship, Carols from King's and Christmas Day Live Worship. The contract is offered on a work for hire basis with anticipated delivery from March 2027 until December 2028. Deadline for eligibility information: 11 June
The 麻豆社 Comedy Festival 2026: everything you need to know
The 麻豆社 Comedy Festival 2026 is taking place in Liverpool on 13 - 14 May with a series of talks, panel discussions, screenings, short film nights, live comedy shows and networking events for industry professionals and beyond. Find a full schedule of the events, short films and further information.
New commissioning brief: Children's digital-first commissioning
The 麻豆社 Children鈥檚 digital-first commissioning team are looking for ideas tailored specifically for platforms such as YouTube. Find out what they鈥檙e looking for and how to send them your ideas.
Saturday Kitchen to be put out to competitive tender
We鈥檙e putting the production of our weekend food show Saturday Kitchen out for competition. The full invitation to tender including eligibility criteria will be published in the coming weeks.
Watch the latest 麻豆社 Children's commissioning briefing
Watch a recording of the briefing event held in February 2026 for the latest editorial steers and audience insights from the commissioning teams responsible for C麻豆社 and CBeebies content.
Crimewatch Live and TV coverage of religious events to be put out to competition
We鈥檙e putting the production of 麻豆社 One series Crimewatch Live out for competition, as well as a range of religious events including Easter Service Live, Urbi Et Orbi: The Pope's message from the Vatican, Carols from Kings, Midnight Mass Live, Christmas Morning Live and The Archbishop of Canterbury鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 Day message.
New opportunity: documentaries for 麻豆社 YouTube deepwatch channel
We鈥檙e commissioning 20 standalone documentaries for our new YouTube documentary channel deepwatch, aimed at engaging 16鈥�24 year-olds across the UK. Each film will be a minimum of 25 minutes long and we鈥檙e inviting production companies based in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or the English regions to pitch their ideas now. Deadline for ideas: 7 May
As part of the 麻豆社鈥檚 commitment to supporting the grassroots of the creative industries in all four nations, we are announcing the 40 independent production companies that will receive support from the Small Indie Fund and the Radio & Music Indie Development Fund.
New Directors of Entertainment and Factual appointed in 麻豆社 Content restructure
Ed Havard has been confirmed as the Director of Entertainment and Fiona Campbell as the Director of Factual following changes to the division鈥檚 senior leadership team to deliver even greater focus and accelerate the 麻豆社鈥檚 strategic priorities. Both will start their new roles in the Spring.
Updated 麻豆社 Children's commissioning priorities
Find out what the commissioning teams across 0-6 and 7-12 are looking for now with their updated editorial development priorities for 2025/26 and beyond.
Commissioning opportunities: Radio 4 spring commissioning round
Commissioning opportunities open for submissions across arts, comedy, drama and factual programming.
Commissioning opportunity: 麻豆社 YouTube Perspectives channel
Opportunity to help develop and produce a variety of formats for the new YouTube Perspectives channel (w/t) focused on showcasing perspectives and encouraging dialogue and debate for 16-24 year-olds. Deadline: 15 February
Commissioning opportunity: The One Show VTs from North East based producers
We're seeking two suppliers with an existing substantive base in the North East to deliver three VTs each for 麻豆社 One鈥檚 The One Show, for inclusion on an ad hoc basis. Ideas must have broad appeal and engage a wide range of audience demographics and age groups. Deadline for submissions: 3 March