If you have what it takes to work in television or radio, but feel you've never had the opportunity, now is the time to act! The BBC is beginning its annual search for budding broadcast talent this month with seven new schemes offering people opportunities to work in different areas of the media. Asian presenter, Konnnie Huq who works on 'Blue Peter' will be spearheading the 'BBC Talent' campaign along with ex-footballer Ian Wright.

BBC Talent is the BBC's unique initiative to find and develop new broadcast talent in the UK, andit has launched seven new schemes looking for people of all ages for a diverse range of opportunities:

• Actors are sought for the BBC's forthcoming epic drama series, The Canterbury Tales, which have been adapted by some of Britain's top television writers. (More details below)
• BBC Radio 1 is looking for people who are passionate about R'n'B, dance or alternative/indie music to take up one-year contracts and work alongside Trevor Nelson, Pete Tong and John Peel. (More details below)
• BBC Sport is offering a budding sports enthusiast and wannabe reporter the chance to be part of the sports reporting team for the Athens Olympics in 2004. (More details below)
• BBC FOUR wants to hear from experts in their field with ideas for interesting documentaries which will be commissioned and shown on the digital channel. (More details below)
• There is a chance to direct a music video which will be funded by, and shown on, Top Of The Pops. (More details below)
• BBC English Regions is looking for trainee weather presenters to present the local weather in different areas of the country. (More details below)
• Comedy acts and sketch writers have the chance to compete for the BBC THREE New Comedy Awards. (More details below)

Further details of all the schemes can be found on the BBC Talent website or by calling the BBC Talent Hotline on 08700 106060.

Application forms are available from 6 March and the closing date for most schemes is 30 May 2003.

Lorna Clarke, Talent Executive, said: "We have a really wide range of schemes this year and the BBC wants to find the best new broadcasting talent in the country. Whether you want to work on the Olympics or present the weather, make a pop video or a serious documentary, act in a drama or work for Radio 1, now is your chance. Don't let the opportunity pass you by."

BBC TALENT 2003 - THE SCHEMES

RADIO 1 MUSIC MASTERS

On offer are three one-year contracts to work on the most prestigious radio music channel in the country, with some of the biggest names in the business: John Peel, Trevor Nelson and Pete Tong.

BBC Radio 1 is looking for people who know everything there is to know about alternative, R'n'B or dance music. People who are passionate - and knowledgeable - about the music, the artists, the influences, the history and the future of any of these genres should apply for the opportunity to be trained by some of the industry's leading production teams.

The three selected people will work at Radio 1 and receive training in broadcasting, editing, reporting, production, research and have the chance to take part in outside broadcasts and other Radio 1 events.

The scheme is open to people over 18 and who are not working in network radio production.

Closing date for applications is 9 May 2003.

NEW TV EXPERTS

Whether you are an academic or an anorak, if you have a great idea for a television documentary - and you've always wanted to make it - now is your chance. The search is on for people who are experts in their own field, who are great storytellers and who want to present programmes about their chosen subject.

Ten people will be given the opportunity to make taster tapes to showcase their presenting style. The tapes will be shown to the BBC's senior commissioning editors and one will be chosen to make a documentary to be shown on BBC FOUR.

Open auditions will be taking place in specially adapted taxis which will be travelling around the country over the next few months. In the taxi studios people can record their ideas and suggestions.

Auditions will be held May-July 2003.

THE CANTERBURY TALES

The BBC are seeking actors for a variety of small speaking parts in their epic new drama series, The Canterbury Tales. On offer are parts in each of Chaucer's six tales - which have been adapted by some of the countries leading television writers.

Auditions are being held along the route of Chaucer's stories and filming will take place over the summer for broadcast on BBC ONE later in the year.

Those who come to audition will be seen by a panel of experts including series Executive Producer Franc Roddam (creator of Auf Weidershen Pet), who has previously discovered numerous people who have become successful actors, including Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels.

ROAD TO ATHENS

A chance to become a member of the award-winning BBC Sport reporting team for the Athens Olympics/Paralympics in 2004. Two nine month contracts to work as a trainee sports reporter are on offer and are open to anyone over the age of 18, not currently working full-time as a sports reporter on radio, television or online.

Competition for the two places is expected to be tough and applicants will have to send in an audio cassette or video with their report of a sporting event as well as a written report on an Olympic or Paralympic sport.

Screen tests will follow for the best and then a final short list of candidates will be invited to London in September. One of the two successful candidates will get to be part of the BBC Olympic reporting team for Athens 2004.

Closing Date for applications is 30 May 2003.

TOP OF THE POPS VIDEO DIRECTOR

This is your chance to direct a music video which will be shown live on the legendary chart show Top Of The Pops. The scheme is open to anyone over the age of 16 who has never had their work shown on television.

Applicants need to pick a chart act from the official UK Top 40 in the past year and either write a one page proposal for the video they'd like to make for the act and song, send in a sample video or send in a storyboard.

The best five entrants will then be loaned a DV camera and given £500 to help develop their ideas. These final five videos will be featured on a Top Of The Pops programme - the best will get the chance to direct a video for a chart act which will be screened on Top Of The Pops on BBC ONE.

Closing date for applications is 30 May 2003.

WEATHER PRESENTERS

This is your chance to follow in the footsteps of Bill Giles, Michael Fish, and John Kettley! BBC Talent is looking for weather presenters for English regional television news.

Two six month contracts are being offered to those who feel they have what it takes to explain highs, lows, mid-Atlantic depressions and incoming warm fronts.

Auditions, in front of a panel of judges, will be held in July at the BBC's 11 English regional TV centres.

Two successful candidates will be offered training with the Meteorological Office in London. The scheme is open to anyone aged over 18 and who has never worked as a television presenter.

Closing date for audition applications is 30 May 2003.

BBC THREE NEW COMEDY AWARDS

If you think you can make more than your friends and work colleagues laugh, this is your chance to prove it. BBC THREE is offering £2000 in prize money and a slot on the channel to the winner of the Stand-Up Award - open to anyone with a comedy act as long as they haven't worked on the comedy circuit for more than three years.

There is also a Sketch Writers Award - open to individual writers or writing teams of no more than five members - with prize money of £1000. The scheme gives budding comedy writers the chance to see their work produced and performed professionally and screened on BBC THREE.

Applicants for the Stand-Up Award need to send in a VHS video cassette of their stand-up routine (5-8 minutes long).

For the Sketch Writers Award, applicants will need to submit a written script or VHS (three sketches of no more than two minutes long).

Closing date for applications is 11 April 2003.

ABOUT BBC TALENT

Since its launch in March 2000, BBC Talent has run 34 different schemes and awarded 155 contracts and commissions with more than 300 additional people having their work showcased or being shown on-screen.

In year one BBC Talent launched with six schemes looking for television presenters, Radio 1 trainees, sitcom writers, programme developers, composers and stand-up comedians for the BBC New Comedy Awards.

32 talented people were given their first break in broadcasting.

In year two, BBC Talent ran schemes including looking for actors to appear in BBC Drama Series, sports reporters for Radio 5 Live, graphics designers for Top Of The Pops, presenters for BBC Local Radio, script writers for drama series, kids to make their own television programme and musicians and vocalists across music of black origin.

65 talented people were given their first break in broadcasting.

In year three, some of the BBC Talent schemes on offer were looking for new film makers, drama directors, presenters for CBBC, Radio Production trainees, interactive presenters for BBCi, reporters for BBC Sport and science experts to present on television.

58 talented people were given their first break in broadcasting.

WANT TO APPLY?

Further details of all the schemes can be found on the BBC Talent website or by calling the BBC Talent Hotline on 08700 106060.