Becoming a writer after UEA
By: Alumni Team
Natalie Froome (LDC15) left UEA in 2019 with a BA in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing (Scriptwriting). Alongside a job as a Hansard Reporter in the House of Lords, Natalie has started to build a career as a television writer, and has recently been selected as writer on the BBC's Voice 2026, in their London hub. Natalie took the time to answer some questions on her time at UEA, and what it's been like building her writing career.
How did you discover UEA and why did you choose to study here?
I’d heard about UEA’s reputation for English Literature and creative writing, and when I attended the UEA open day everything just felt right. I remember walking across the square in the sunshine thinking “Yep, I can see myself here”. Everyone was friendly, the atmosphere was welcoming, and I’ve always had a soft spot for brutalist architecture.
At what point during your undergraduate studies did you decide to carry on at UEA and do a Master’s?
The Creative Writing MA had always been a bit of a “someday” aspiration and I loved the idea of spending a year solely focused on developing as a writer, but I wasn’t sure whether to stay on or start my career. When I found out I was eligible for the fee scholarship after graduating with a first, I decided it was now or never, and I’m so glad I stayed!
What is your favourite memory of studying at UEA? And of living in Norwich?
There are so many, it’s hard to choose one! I fondly remember UEA Archery Club competitions and socials, gigs at the LCR and Saturday mornings in the library followed by a campus kitchen fry-up. I loved living in the Golden Triangle during my MA and wrote most of my dissertation in the Caffé Nero on Unthank Road.
Natalie on Graduation Day
What were your career ambitions while studying, and how have these changed as you have embarked on your career?
I knew I wanted to write TV from a young age, but it seemed like a bit of a pipe dream. At UEA I got the chance to explore lots of different interests and hear from other grads at Working with Words, which was such a valuable event. I used the summer holidays to get various bits of work experience on daytime TV, at an advertising agency and in a newspaper office, but the ambition of writing TV drama never really left. Today I balance my job in the House of Lords as a Hansard Reporter with building my career as a television writer.
How did you come to be part of the BBC’s Voice 2026 London Hub? What does the recognition mean to you?
I’d been entering the BBC Open Call every year since 2020, using it as a deadline to keep writing and improving, hoping one day to get a spot on one of the BBC’s development groups but knowing that the sheer number of writers entering made it unlikely. My 2024 script made the top 9% of entries applications, so I knew I was heading in the right direction. After reaching the interview stage of the 2025 Open Call, I was selected for London Voices 2026. It’s been such a brilliant creative experience, and being part of the programme has given me more confidence in my work and in trusting my own voice—even if the imposter syndrome hasn’t disappeared completely!
You’ve managed to build up an impressive body of screenwriting work – what’s been a highlight for you?
Aside from BBC Voices, my first development deal was a huge moment. I got an email from my agent that almost made me fall out of my chair; a production company had read a one-page pitch I’d written and instantly said they wanted it. Getting to be in a room with producers fleshing out a world and characters I’d created, testing ideas and throwing plot about, confirmed that television writing was exactly what I wanted to do
And what’s next? What are you working on and what do you hope to achieve?
I’m hoping to get some more ideas into development, because I love the collaborative creative process. The spy thriller series I developed on BBC Voices has just gone out to production companies for consideration, so fingers crossed! Long-term, I’d like to be writing TV full-time, contributing to series and eventually running my own shows.