Josh Merritt

Heralded by Jack Thorne as "a tremendous talent", Josh is a neurodivergent / disabled (autistic, dyspraxic & ADHD) Screenwriter. Commissioned on WAFFLE'S AFTER SCHOOL CLUB (CBeebies / BBC TV) and previously HOLLYOAKS. Josh's BBC drama film BREATHE plus his Arts Council England-funded VODKA PANTS have been screened widely through BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying Oska Bright Film Festival. In development are original series with Further South Productions and Expectation Entertainment, and a TV show with Gurinder Chadha (BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM); films with Nigel Cole (CALENDAR GIRLS), Simon Smith (BAFTA / Emmy-winning editor of CHERNOBYL), Tyler Macintyre (FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S), Neal Edelstein (MULHOLLAND DRIVE), Matt Holt (A KIND OF SPARK) and Gina Lyons (DREAMING WHILST BLACK). Josh’s debut play MADDIE was published alongside rave reviews for its sold-out London Arcola Theatre run. He has been a commissioned playwright with Boundless Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, and is a founding member of the Barbican Young Filmmakers for whom he created UNLEASHED, a production which The Independent gifted ★★★★★. His writing-directing work was awarded a ‘Best Film Noir’ commendation from the producers of SIN CITY. Josh is an ambassador to the BAFTA-winning TripleC / DANC (Disabled Artists Networking Community), and he featured as a performer in THEN BARBARA MET ALAN (BBC / Netflix). He has also written for Rory Bremner on BBC Radio 4. Additionally, Josh has penned an upcoming short charity film for The Jenna Wilkins Foundation.