Channel 4

Channel 4 on the hunt for new northern writers

The writing scheme is open anyone who is new to television, with three successful candidates being placed within independent production companies Lime Pictures and Bonafide Films, where they will undergo mentoring to develop their writing skills.

They will also each receive bursaries of £3,000 to support their time at Lime Pictures or Bonafide Films, along with a nine-month package of training and development from staff at the production companies.

Top TV Picks: 19th December

Christmas City 

BBC One, 9.15am (continues throughout the week)

Christmas City is a five-part series presented by Rav Wilding and Hayley Hassall that looks at what it takes to deliver a special Christmas.

They go behind the scenes to show all the organisation that goes into making sure everyone coming into Manchester has a safe and memorable Christmas, such as how the market stall holders keep up with festivities.

Stunt man to perform 100ft free fall live on Channel 4

On Sunday 18 December, Hollywood stuntman Dave Grant will make the 100ft 'Leap of Faith' and free fall at a speed of over 50mph live on Channel 4 to promote the new Assassin's Creed cinema release on 1 January 2017.

The bold jump pays homage to the protagonist's 'Leap of Faith' jump in the film, where Michael Fassbender's character free falls from the top of high structures. 

The ad break has been created to celebrate the film’s director Justin Kurzel's decision for real life stunts to be used in place of CGI wherever possible in the film.

New Channel 4 thriller Born to Kill has begun filming

Born to Kill is the first commission for female writing duo Tracey Malone (who also wrote BBC One's Rillington Place) and BIFA-nominated actress Kate Ashfield.

This series stars Romola Garai (who starred in Atonement and Suffragette) and Daniel Mays (Made in Dagenham) as the single parents of two out-of-control teens.

Channel 4's thriller is a look into the mind of Sam (played by Jack Rowan) who’s on the verge of acting out hidden psychopathic desires. The past comes back to haunt everyone and years of deceit escape from the woodwork.

An RTS Futures Careers Fair success story

Rhys Cartwright

I found out about the RTS Futures Career's Fair on Twitter, and thought that even though travelling from Manchester to London for it specifically might be extreme, you never know who you'll meet at these events. I found everyone at the fair to be very friendly, and had no issues striking up conversations with other visitors; after all, we were all in the same boat.

This week's top TV: 12 - 18 December

Ian McKellen Vicious ITV

Monday: David Blaine: Beyond Magic

Channel 4, 9pm

Following his critically acclaimed ratings for David Blaine: Real or Magic, Blaine returns with his most revealing performance yet. 

Magic meets documentary in the one-hour special, which has been two years in the making, as Blaine blows the minds of David Beckham, Johnny Depp and Patrick Stewart, along with others.

Channel 4 announces Winnie-the-Pooh documentary

Winnie-the-Pooh Channel 4

It's the 90th anniversary of the publication of the first Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Written by A A Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh has captured the imaginations of millions of fans around the world.

In this programme, Alan Titchmarsh will set out in search of the history and all the locations that inspired Milne’s poems and stories along with E H Shepard’s memorable illustrations. 

Alan celebrates Winnie-the-Pooh in his 90th year and the legacy he left behind, speaking to Milne's biographer, children’s author Brian Sibley and journalist Matthew Sweet.

Event Report: Women in Comedy

Stage Award winner in the 2016 Funny Women Awards, Harriet Braine, performs her comedy song 'Pablo Picasso' at the event

Lynne Parker was that panellist, and the attitude represented in that quote was one of the things that inspired her to found the Funny Women Awards in 2003. Seventy women entered in the first year; this year there were more than 500 entries.

Musical comedian Harriet Braine won the 2016 Funny Women Stage Award and she entertained the RTS audience with songs about Matisse and Pablo Picasso.