Global Action Plan

Television cannot be accused of ignoring the environment. Our destruction of the planet has long been a staple of serious TV documentaries. And in drama, zombies, pandemics and nuclear catastrophe offer stark visions of our future if humanity fails to mend its ways.

According to Richard Curtis, however, environmental programming doesn’t have to be “boring, didactic or terrifying”. The UK’s king of comedy reckoned it can also be “funny, interesting, educational and personal”.

Richard Curtis was speaking at an event, hosted by the RTS, which looked at how environmental issues can be addressed in TV comedy and drama.

Curtis enjoyed huge TV success, penning Blackadder, Mr Bean and The Vicar of Dibley before moving into film and writing the hit romantic comedies Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary.

The competition, aimed at 18-29 year olds, is looking for powerful content with humour, aspirational and feel-good storylines to depict an optimistic and sustainable future, that diverts away from the typical dystopian drama depiction of what the future holds.

Flickers of the Future patron Richard Curtis CBE commented: "This could be the most important drama of our time, a much-needed route to drive the rapid and major changes we need to avert a climate crisis and achieve the United Nations Global Goals.