Josh Merritt

Heralded by BAFTA- and Emmy-winning Jack Thorne as "a tremendous talent", Josh is a neurodivergent / disabled (autistic / dyspraxic) Screenwriter. He is currently writing for HOLLYOAKS, one of the UK's longest-running TV drama series. His 2022 drama film, BREATHE, was commissioned by BBC and has been screened widely through BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying Oska Bright Film Festival. In development are a comedy-drama series with Steve November (former head of ITV Drama) and Further South Productions, a short film with Simon Smith (BAFTA- and Emmy-winning editor of CHERNOBYL and STAR WARS: ANDOR), and a feature film with Nigel Cole (director of CALENDAR GIRLS, MADE IN DAGENHAM). In 2021, Josh’s debut play MADDIE completed a sold-out run at London’s Arcola Theatre and LondonTheatre1 gifted it a glowing 4* review as "the kind of story not often seen on stage". In 2020, Josh was awarded Arts Council England funding to write & direct a remotely-shot comedy film, VODKA PANTS, starring David Schaal (THE OFFICE, THE INBETWEENERS). His other short films have been screened across the globe and broadcast on television. He has been a commissioned / published playwright with Boundless Theatre and New Wolsey Theatre and is a founding member of the Barbican Young Filmmakers for whom he co-devised and created UNLEASHED, which The Independent reviewed 5*. Josh's writing-directing work was awarded a ‘Best Film Noir’ commendation from the producers of Hollywood classic SIN CITY. Josh is an ambassador to the BAFTA-winning TripleC / DANC (Disabled Artists Networking Community), and he performed as a supporting artist in the Broadcast Award-winning THEN BARBARA MET ALAN (BBC / Netflix). He has also written for Rory Bremner on BBC Radio 4, who hailed Josh as an "exciting & talented writer".