How to breakthrough in TV drama.
Learn from a top UK drama producer with an unbeatable track record in television and film.
Sign up to script writing courses listed below.
About
Peter Ansorge was the Head of Drama at Channel 4 and a drama producer at the BBC Pebble Mill. His BAFTA award winning career includes: A Very British Coup, Traffik, GBH, The Politician’s Wife, The Camomile Lawn, Dance to the Music of Time and the Peabody winning adaptation of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City.
Currently Peter teaches scriptwriting at the National Film & Television School.
Several of the scripts completed on Peter’s writing courses at the National Film & TV School are in development with a leading UK production company. David Macpherson, a former student of Peter’s and creator of Amazon Prime’s The Rig says: 'I can't believe that I wrote an entire one-hour drama script in just 8 days! And it was Peter's inspiration and knowledge that made that happen. His course is the closest thing I've found to being in a real TV writers' room.’
The success of streaming TV drama has created a new appetite among audiences for original and challenging drama series on television. At the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, drama commissioners emphasize that they are looking to develop drama series of this ambition over the next decade. They will need to identify new talent.
The courses below are designed with this background in mind.
We are looking for fresh ideas and the tenacity to bring them to screen.
Summer Script Writing
8th July - 12th August 2026
10:am-4:00pm.
online via Zoom
PETER ANSORGE, ex head of Drama at Channel 4 and a leading scriptwriting tutor at the National Film and Television School, is offering a new and exciting online summer screenwriting course based on his experience as both a successful practitioner and teacher.
Peter believes that a successful writing course for TV and Film should lead to actual contacts within the industry. Both online and at the National TV & Film School, Peter has won results.
On Peter’s course you will begin writing from day one. The first morning will begin with asking and answering a question: what makes great TV & Film writing? Peter will talk you through specific examples. The afternoon will be listening to and discussing your original idea for a TV Pilot or Feature Film. The focus will be on your idea and how it might excite an audience. The course is aimed at helping you find your unique voice. There will be no mention of beat sheets or inciting incidents. Each evening you will write five pages that you’ll share the following morning with your fellow writers in the creative environment – on zoom - of a real Writer’s Room. The aim is to complete a TV Pilot, and Bible, or an original feature film. Representatives from the industry, as well as Peter will provide support on how to get your completed script read by a production company.
The course fee is £1,425. The fee can be paid over three installments. Other payment plans can be arranged on request.
1-2-1 scriptwriting sessions - online
I work with writers on a 1-2-1 basis to guide them through the process of script writing, helping them find their individual voice and offering editorial support.
It’s proven to be a very effective way for a writer to produce a finished script to a professional standard.
Because every writer works in their own unique way I tailor their sessions with me to suit their schedule and pace of writing.
If this is of interest to you, get in touch to arrange a free half hour Zoom chat to talk about your script idea and if you would like to proceed to work out your tailored programme.
fees:
A two hour 1-2-1 session is £250 3 sessions is £650
Feedback from former students:
“ I highly recommend Peter’s courses to new writers wanting their first break. It’s a brilliant way to get a spec script written with Peter’s wealth of knowledge behind you plus daily feedback from your peers throughout. My script kick started my career as a full-time screenwriter.” Celia Morgan – NFTS Scotland alumna.
“The course was well-structured and paced, packed with helpful craft and industry insights as well as relevant, challenging and inspiring guests.But for me, it was Peter’s encouraging teaching style that I got the most out of. He has an approachable but astute way with writers, and it was a joy to see him work, not just on my project but across the group.”
“Peter’s knowledge is superb. I was constantly inspired.”
“…To have the support and expertise required to develop my initial idea into something resembling ‘good’ on a daily basis is something that cannot be underestimated. From the expertise of the teacher, to the knowledge and support of my fellow Participants, with a variety of specialities and prior experience is a luxury that isn’t to be underestimated.”
“Peter brings his wealth of knowledge to every session and I’ve left his course feeling invigorated with new connections to the best production companies in the UK.”
“…I came on your course and with your encouragement and thoughts turned Last Gasp into a reality – We had our World Premiere in London at the weekend and came away with two awards – Best Impact and Best Enseble. The Times has done a feature on us today..Thanks for turning it from a rough idea into an actual film.”
Tom Cholmondeley (19/11/25)
Peter Ansorge Credits
Peter began his television career as a script editor and producer with BBC Drama. Among his productions were Empire Road (1979), the first original drama series to be written for the BBC by a Black writer and David Hare's Bafta award winning PLAY For Today, Licking Hitler (1978).
Peter Ansorge went on to become the Commissioning Editor of Drama at Channel 4 (1987-1997). Among his Bafta and International Emmy award-winning commissions were: A Very British Coup, Traffik , GBH, Tales of The City, The Politician's Wife, The Camomile Lawn and Dance to the Music of Time.
He was also involved in the early years of Film On 4 working under the Head of Drama David Rose. He worked on the development of Playing Away, The Good Father, and the groundbreaking My Beautiful Laundrette. Peter is the author of From Liverpool To Los Angeles (Faber, 1987) an account of contemporary screenwriting in Great Britain.
Peter began teaching screenwriting in 2009 and became Head of Short Courses at the National FIlm and Television School in 2014 until 2020. He devised and teaches ever popular courses including, Writing the Pilot, Writing the Bible, and Script Editing. He is offering online script sessions in addition to his NFTS teaching.
Channel 4 - as commissioning editor
Tandoori Nights (producer) 1985
A Very British Coup 1988
Behaving Badly 1989
Traffik 1989
The Gravy Train 1990
The Orchid House 1991
GBH 1991
The Gravy Train Goes East 1991
The Camomile Lawn 1992
Lipstick on Your Collar 1993
Tales of the City 1993
The Rector’s Wife 1994
Alan Bleasdale Presents x 4 films 1994
Hearts & Minds 1995
Jake’s Progress 1995
The Politician’s Wife 1995
Karaoke (exec prod) 1996
Cold Lazarus (exec prod) 1996
The Fragile Heart 1996
A Dance to the Music of Time 1997
Mosley 1998
Brookside (continuing series) 1988-1998
Film Credits
Second Sight (exec prod) 1999
Red Mercury (writer, prod) 2005
Take 3 Girls (exec prod) 2006
Natasha (exec prod) 2007
Exitz (exec prod) 2007
BBC Pebble Mill
Second City Firsts (script ed) 1975-1978
Play for Today (script ed) 1976-197
Gangsters (script editor) 1976-1978 (12 eps)
Play of the Week for BBC2 1978 (3 eps)
Empire Road (producer) 1978-1979 (15 eps)
BBC Playhouse (producer) 1980-1982
Good at Art (producer) 1983
The Bride (producer) 1983
Dear Manju (producer) 1983
Romance, Romance (prod) 1983
Licking Hitler (script ed) 1978
Writer
Moon Over Soho (television play) 1985
From Liverpool to Los Angeles 1987
Disrupting the Spectacle 1975
Editor, Plays and Players
1970-1975
Awards Film & Television
Dance to the Music of Time
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1999
Best Actor: Simon Russell Beale
The Politician’s Wife
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1996
Best Drama Serial
Winner Broadcasting Press Guild Award 1996
Juliet Stephenson
Winner Best Emmy Drama 1995
Winner Emmy TV Drama Mini-Series
Paula Milne
Winner Peabody Award 1996
Hearts and Minds
Winner RTS Television Award 1996
Best Drama Serial
Winner Prix Europa best TV Drama
Tales of the City
Winner OFTA TV Hall of Fame
Winner Peabody Award 1994
GBH
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1992
Best Actor: Robert Lindsay
Winner Broadcasting Guild Awards 1992
Best Drama Series
Best Actor: Robert Lindsay
TRAFFIK
Winner Banff TV Festival 1990
Grand Prize
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1990
Best Drama Series
Winner Broadcasting Press Guild Award 1990
Best Drama Series
Winner International Emmy Awards 1989
A Very British Coup
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1989
Best Drama Series
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1989
Best actor: Ray McAnally
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1989
Best Film Editor: Don Fairservice
Winner BAFTA TV Award 1989
Best Film Sound: Christian Wangler
LICKING HITLER
Winner BAFTA 1978
Best Single Drama
writer: David Hare