My journey as a writer first started at a muddy car boot sale, when I watched a sitcom scene unfold in front of me between a steadfast haggler and a seller who wanted just a little bit too much for a Nintendo 64 game. I knew what I had witnessed throughout my childhood had the bones of great regional comedy, but sadly was not - and still isn't - reflected proportionally on screen.

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Two years later, having completed my Drama and English Literature degree at the University of Manchester, I graduated into a global pandemic - although I must admit that the people of Leigh were mildly indifferent! - and found writing to be a means of communicating with the inaccessible outside world. Through online comedy writing courses, I built a network of writers across the UK and beyond - many of who suggested that I should train to take on script editing as a professional pathway as opposed to a hobby. Encouraging feedback but no small feat for a working class lad from Leigh with no connections in TV, save a childhood visit to the Coronation Street Tour, where I sneakily inserted 20p into The Kabin's slot machine to nab myself a cheap souvenir that I'm still not entirely sure was meant to be taken...

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Struggling to find an entry point in TV, I worked for several years as an English and creative writing tutor supporting GCSE and Post-16 pupils across Greater Manchester from a range of disadvantaged backgrounds. My time as a tutor built in me a strong ethos of paying back successes and acting as a positive role model for people from similar backgrounds to my own. This time also saw me gain my first broadcast credits - for BBC Radio Scotland's Breaking the News and JACK FM's UnionJACK - as well as recognition on the longlist of the ShortCom Sitcom Writing Competition.

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More recently, I completed a MA in Drama Production for Film, TV and Digital Media at the University of Salford. The course allowed me to specialise in screenwriting, storylining + script editing and crucially built my confidence to feel I deserved my place in rooms with people whose accents and backgrounds were significantly different to my own. Over the past year I've continued to gain work experience in TV research and write script reports for writers working towards submission windows. I also trained in script reading and reporting at the NFTS, a room which I (surprisingly!) felt comfortable in as I learned to distil my insights into an industry appropriate format.

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My most recent success is having secured a place on The Network: The TV Foundation's entry-level scheme for talent from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of the programme, I storylined and scripted for the EastEnders Live Read at the Edinburgh TV Festival - supported by a fantastic team of soap's finest, who were beyond generous with their time and guidance. I've also finished writing and filming my first sitcom taster, set in a North-West charity shop to avoid damaging rented equipment on the rainy car boot field! Later this year I'll be taking part in playwriting workshops led by the literary team at the Bolton Octagon - my favourite theatre ever since I cried at the Ghost of Christmas Future in their 2007 production of A Christmas Carol!

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Outside of TV, I enjoy walking my dog Bella and buying more books than I can realistically accommodate. I've performed stand-up comedy without receiving total silence (a success!) and occasionally dip my toe into video games - specifically those of the Mario variety with enemies that seem way too cute to stomp on...