Britain’s biggest talent show will be in Glasgow on Saturday 9th May, looking for the next winner of that one million pound recording contract.

This year it’s all about a new voice and a new look, so dress to impress the judges.

It’s not too late to audition so join the crowds at Hampden Park at 8.00am next Saturday. Further details can be found at the X Factor website.

The Writers Academy is a major initiative aimed at discovering and training the next generation of writers for BBC One’s flagship drama series: EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City, and Doctors.

Eight writers are selected out of hundreds of applicants to undergo an intensive programme designed to equip them with all the skills necessary to write successfully for BBC Drama. The course entails classroom training, lectures from the country’s best writers, instruction in all aspects of television production, and direct writing experience on the four Continuing Drama shows
You are eligible to apply if you have had your work broadcast on television or radio, or performed professionally at the theatre. You will need to send in an original sample of your writing.

Deadline for applications is 5th May, click here for course outline and further information.

Tern TV’s ‘Teen Spa of Embarrassing Illnesses’ starts on Tuesday 28th April and runs weekly for 3 weeks on BBC2 Scotland at 2200.

Can Amanda Hamilton and her team transform the minds and bodies of the UK’s worst young health offenders - the nation’s teenagers? A group of young people with modern society’s most prevalent ‘lifestyle emergencies’ are sent on an extreme detox to ’save their lives’. Can Teen Spa turn their lives around and can it kick start a campaign to save the well being of a whole generation?

Check out the Tern TV website for more details.

STV’s senior executives are to take a voluntary pay cut and waive bonuses as the Scottish broadcaster faces a year-on-year ad revenue decline of more than 20% for April and May.

The company has also hired Michael Jackson as a non-executive director – his first senior UK television role since he quit as Channel 4 chief executive nearly eight years ago to work in the US media. Jackson, who joins STV on 1 May, is currently a senior adviser to Barry Diller’s InterActiveCorp, owner of properties including the search engine Ask Jeeves. He served four years as chief executive of Channel 4, leaving in late 2001. Prior to joining Channel 4 in 1997, Jackson worked at the BBC for more than a decade, rising to become controller of BBC2, BBC1 and director of broadcasting.

Atlantic Film Group’s Financing your First Feature Film will be taking place in Central London on 23rd & 24th April 2009.
Presented by producer and financier Alan Harris with guest speakers, this course is a vital insight into the world of financing independent films, from low/no budget to international co-productions. It provides an overview of the current film marketplace, how to access funding sources and the key factors essential to getting your first film funded and made. For more information check out the Atlantic Film Group website or email info@atlanticfilmgroup.com

If you are attending Cannes and would like your company details included in the directory of UK companies in Cannes for 2009 please email the following information to export@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk:

* Company name and short company profile (30 words)
* Address, email and company telephone numbers in the UK
* Address, email and company telephone numbers in Cannes
* Company website for further information
* Executives attending Cannes (plus their dates, should you wish to include this)

Deadline for inclusion is 20th April 2009. For further information please visit: www.ukfilmcentre.org.uk.

The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival is looking for enthusiastic and hard working media-minded individuals to volunteer as stewards. If you are interested in TV or event management and are available between 24 and 31 August 2009 to work in Edinburgh, they would like to hear from you.

MGEITF relies on the commitment and energy of 35 temporary workers aged 18+ every year. These volunteer posts offer:

An invaluable learning experience.
A working environment with colleagues who are in the TV industry.
Access to sessions, parties and events at the festival.

For more information check out the MGEITF website, and if you want to apply please email a CV, letter and a recent photo by Friday 22 May to kam@mgeitf.co.uk

Only successful applicants will be contacted and telephone interviews will be held in June.

Anne Mensah is to become Head of Independent Drama, BBC. While remaining Head of Drama, BBC Scotland, her new role will bring together all independent drama output under one cohesive strategy, whilst individual commissioners will retain their own development slates.

Anne will lead a much more co-ordinated approach to all development and commissioning for the independent drama community across BBC Wales, Northern Ireland and London indies (England) as well as Scotland.

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, says: “Anne’s role has been created to ensure a more strategic approach to development and production within the indie sector and to reduce any potential overlap resulting in a more effective process for all. Anne is a brilliant and popular advocate for drama – she is passionate about independent drama and I know will help steer a rosy future for BBC Drama.

Anne Mensah is editorially responsible for Drama, BBC Scotland. Development for BBC Scotland Drama will continue to be spearheaded by Anne and the Executive Producers in the department. Anne will report to Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, while continuing to report into Donalda Mackinnon, BBC Scotland Head of Programmes for her BBC Scotland role.

Scottish Screen have announced new investment strands with seven new funds now available. They are designed to create opportunities for talent, businesses and audiences to develop and grow and include the following:
- Content Development Fund
- Content Production Fund
- Audio Description Film Fund
- Talent Development Fund
- Opportunities Fund
- Audience Development Fund
- Market Development Fund

New forms of assistance available within these funds include:
- Support to attend industry conferences, seminars and events (through the Opportunities Fund)
- Support for companies offering Career Development programmes in Scotland (through the Talent Development Fund)
- Support for companies to develop projects at a very early stage (through Seed Funding as part of the Content Development Fund)

Unless stated otherwise within the Investment Guidelines all the investment funds are now open and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until such time as funds are fully committed.

More information is available on the Scottish Screen website.

Kim & Aggie from Channel 4’s “How Clean is Your House” are back in Glasgow next week after their postponement last month. They will be visiting Princes Square on Thursday April 9th.

Come and watch their cleaning surgery as they give the public harsh truths about home hygiene and challenge the Queens of Clean to smarten up your dirtiest objects.