In 1973, Howard Thomas, then managing director of Thames Television, launched the Thames Television Theatre Writers Scheme to support and celebrate new writing in the theatre.
He believed that television owed much to the theatre for its supply of creative talent.
the scheme has helped launch some of the finest British play-writing talent.
These are selected by the scheme's panel, chaired by Sir John Mortimer CBE QC.
[4] The panel has included Michael Billington, Thelma Holt CBE, Sue Summers, Catherine Johnson, Beryl Bainbridge DBE and John Tydeman.