Questions Writer

Lifted Entertainment are looking for experienced QUESTION WRITERS for the returning series of UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE.

Dates: Summer 2025 (could be flexible)

Location: Remote working

Role: Lifted Entertainment (North) are looking for a Talent Pool of Question Writers who come from a background of professional writing in a factual capacity. The successful candidates will be commissioned to write a batch of questions for University Challenge (numbering around 35 starters and 30 bonus sets) in accordance with the editorial brief of the show - in terms of style, difficulty and subject matter, and with a high degree of factual accuracy. They will also be responsible for responding to edit and re-write requests in a timely manner.

Skills and experience you’ll need (minimum criteria):

To move forward in the process, you must show how you meet all of the following minimum criteria and answer the screening questions. Please ensure your answers to the screening questions are in the comments box on your Airtable application form. Please give specific examples. If you don’t complete these sections, we won’t be able to move your application forward to the next stage.

1. Professional Writing Experience: You have professional writing experience in any non-fiction capacity that requires in-depth and considered factual research. For example, this could be in journalism, academic writing, publishing or similar.
2. Fact-Checking Skills: You are meticulous in your approach to fact checking your own work.
3. Strong General Knowledge and Specialist Subject(s): You have a broad and strong general knowledge, with one or more subject areas of expertise.
4. Understanding of University Challenge Format: You have a demonstrable understanding of the format of University Challenge and its style of questioning.
5. Education: You hold a BA/BSc Honours degree or equivalent qualification.
6. You have completed the Screening Questions below - 5 in total.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria):

1. Experience of writing questions for television and/or in an amateur quizzing context.
2. Organised and deadline-focused approach to managing your own workload.

Screening Questions:

1. Please describe your experience writing non-fiction content that involved in-depth, considered and accurate factual research. This might be in journalism, academic writing, publishing, or a similar field. We’re looking for examples where research, clarity, and accuracy were essential. Briefly explain the type of content you produced, the subjects you covered, and how you approached researching your work.
2. Describe your approach to fact-checking and how you make sure your work is factually correct.
3. List your subject specialisms or areas of expertise. Examples of specialisms may include (but are not limited to) Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Applied Sciences (Medicine; Engineering; Computer Science), Earth Sciences (Geology; Meteorology), Philosophy, Language & Linguistics, Social Sciences (Anthropology; Sociology; Psychology; Law; Political Science; Economics), Geography, History (Ancient; Medieval; Modern; Contemporary), Mythology & Religion, Literature, Music, Art & Architecture, Film, Television, and Gaming, Sport and/or Food & Drink.
4. Please write one original 'Starter for 10' question in the style of University Challenge.
5. Do you have a BA / BSc degree or equivalent qualification? Please include your education history in your application.

ITV strongly encourages applications for this role from Deaf, Disabled and / or Neurodivergent people. As a Disability Confident Leader, if you meet the minimum criteria for a role and you have declared that you are Disabled, we’ll guarantee you are invited for the next stage* (minimum criteria above). Please only apply if you have the relevant experience that is listed in the minimum criteria section of this advertisement and evidence this in your application.

Please note, on occasion we may receive a very large volume of applications which means applications for a role may close earlier than the referenced closing date. We’d encourage you to apply as soon as possible if interested.