999: Critical Condition (image: 5/Brinkworth)
Award-winning indie production company Brinkworth (999: Critical Condition) is launching Brinkworth West from 5th October – its new Bristol unscripted production base, which will include a brand new three-year training and mentoring programme for unscripted TV.
Aiming to build on Brinkworth’s existing reputation for returning series and singles, the new office will generate new IP and projects and work closely with the London office to build premium shows.
Senior staff across production and programme development begin their roles in October.
The new training scheme, launched in partnership with 5, will give two candidates experience on Brinkworth’s unscripted shows over a six month placement, a total of 12 over the companies’ three-year commitment.
Trainees will work on unscripted content produced by Brinkworth for 5 including across a range of genres and subject matter and will gain a broad spectrum of training and mentoring in production, development, and commissioning.
Malcolm Brinkworth (image: Brinkworth West)
Chief Executive Malcolm Brinkworth already has strong links to the production community in the South West having previously run Bath-based indie, Touch Productions.
He says: “Together with the opening of Brinkworth West, this [training] reflects our commitment to build a sustainable production base in the region, offering new opportunities for young talented people to enter the industry.”
“Our hope is that we can create a vibrant and exciting place for programme makers in the years to come,” he says.
5 chief content officer Ben Frow added: “Access into this industry is getting harder, and nowhere is that felt more than in unscripted, especially if you’re not based in London.
“Partnering with Brinkworth to open this scheme in Bristol is exactly the kind of investment we should be making as a public service broadcaster: backing new talent outside the capital to help us keep making distinctly British shows our audiences love.”
Brinkworth’s productions for 5 include 999: Critical Condition, Surgeons: a Matter of Life and Death, Suspect No 1 and upcoming series Life Support. Other limited series include The Real Unforgotten – originally for ITV and currently in the top 3 shows on Netflix in the UK.
Applications are now open for the 2026/27 training cohort, with a closing date of 12th October 2026. To be eligible for the scheme, applicants must be 18 or over, have a right to work in the UK and be able to work out of the Bristol office for six months. No prior TV experience is needed.
For more information visit: https://training.brinkworth.tv/