Katrina Smith-Jackson is a talented new screenwriter whose credits include several episodes of Channel 4 series HOLLYOAKS, as well as BBC children’s show JOJO AND GRAN GRAN, and BBC show WATERLOO ROAD. She has also been commissioned to write an episode on long running BBC series EASTENDERS, CBBC series THE DUMPING GROUND, and has developed an original HETV series DEAD YARD for TriForce Creative Network under DandI and ScreenSkills’ Regional Breakthrough Writers programme.
Katrina has also participated in writers’ rooms including hit Sky Atlantic show RIVIERA, and HACKNEY WICK for Bad Wolf and Channel 4. She recently developed the pilot for an original TV series for BBC Studios and Channel 4 based on her Screen Nation award nominated web series SHRINK, a psychological drama which looks at the stigma of mental illness within the Black community. Her latest play script MARY, QUEEN OF THOTS debuted at Tower Theatre as a part of their ‘Ain’t I A Woman?’ programme, and her latest feature script QUEERLY BELOVED was shortlisted for Greenacre Productions and TriForce Creative Network’s Script Search initiative. Previously, Katrina won the TriForce Creative Network’s WriterSlam with her original historical series TILBURY RUSH, influenced by her British Jamaican heritage, which received a Sky Drama reading featuring actors Karen Bryson (SHAMELESS), Wil Johnson (WAKING THE DEAD) and Elaine Cassidy (FINGERSMITH).
Katrina currently lectures in screenwriting at Birkbeck University of London and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and previously at Birmingham City University, MetFilm School and Central Saint Martins. She has also previously worked in development at Idris Elba’s production company Green Door Pictures, after starting her career as a script researcher on BBC series EASTENDERS.