Pat Llewellyn fund created for women in TV

The UK body Women in Film and Television has launched a new bursary to find, and fund, women with great ideas for TV projects, in honour of producer Patricia Llewellyn, who passed away late last year.

In a joint collaboration, BBC, Channel 4 and ITV have come together to fund the bursary in memory of Llewellyn (pictured), who was credited for the success of celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay.

Applications will be open to any woman with a unique project and passion for TV. Each year, a total of £30,000 will be awarded to up to three candidates to help them develop their passion projects.

Each successful applicant will be allocated a mentor (normally a member of the awarding committee) who will help guide the candidates and get them in front of key decision makers who can make their ideas happen.

To celebrate Llewellyn’s Welsh roots, and to encourage other women from Wales to follow in her creative footsteps, one place each year will be held specifically for any woman either born in or living in Wales or with a Welsh parent. The other winner or winners can come from anywhere in the UK.

Liz Tucker, chair of Women in Film and Television, said: “Pat Llewellyn had an unparalleled skill in picking and identifying new talent, so this WFTV Bursary seems a really appropriate way of continuing the hugely positive impact she made to the industry and honouring her memory.”

Pat Llewelyn’s husband and business partner at Optomen, Ben Adler said: “This is such an amazing opportunity for women across the UK to make their passion projects a reality. Pat would have been delighted to know her legacy will be giving other women the chance to succeed in the TV industry.”