Written By
FEATURES | COLUMNS | TRAVEL | SCREENPLAYS | COMEDY | SKETCHES | NOVELS
Award-winning journalist, columnist and screenwriter Zara Janjua has spent more than five years writing a fiercely feminist, wry weekly column for The Scottish Sun on Sunday.
She recently received her first major television screenwriting credit on CBBC's Gifted and was a finalist for the 2026 Edinburgh TV Festival New Writers Award.
Alongside her weekly column, she writes travel and arts features for The Scottish Sun and The List.
She is currently developing two original screenplays while writing both a non-fiction and a fiction novel
AS CREDITED ON
"Great presence, energetic style, full of talent."
- BBC Studios Writersroom
Zara holds a Master's degree in Journalism and began her career as a human rights journalist at the Scottish Human Rights Commission and The Innocence Project before moving into broadcast journalism and national newspapers.
As a producer on ITV's This Morning, Lorraine and Loose Women, she wrote celebrity interviews, topical debates and live studio content before returning to focus on screenwriting and long-form journalism.
She has contributed to The Guardian and The List, and was the creative writer behind the WaterBear Network documentary Challenge the Gap.
Her comedy writing has earned recognition from some of the UK's leading talent schemes. She is an alumnus of the BBC Comedy Writersroom, winner of ITV's Female Pilot Club, a Funny Women and David Nobbs Memorial Trust comedy writing finalist, and has received seven short-form comedy commissions from BBC Studios. She regularly writes topical gags and sketches on BBC Scotland programmes.
awards
Edinburgh TV Festival New Writer Award 2026 Finalist
Selected as one of the UK's most promising emerging television writers, recognised by the Edinburgh TV Festival for exceptional storytelling talent, industry potential and work capable of shaping British television.
YFF Skye Screenwriting Residency Programme 2024 Finalist
One of Scotland's most prestigious screenwriting development programmes, working alongside leading broadcasters, commissioners and industry mentors to develop original work through an intensive year-long residency.
Funny Women Comedy Writing & Comedy Shorts 2022 & 2021 Finalist
Recognised by Funny Women, one of the UK's most influential comedy organisations, renowned for discovering and championing the next generation of comedy talent across television, radio, stage and screen.
David Nobbs Comedy Writing Award 2021 Finalist
Finalist in a highly competitive UK comedy writing award, recognised by a judging panel of leading comedy commissioners, producers and writers, and selected from the country's most promising emerging comic voices.
ITV Female Pilot Club, Winner 2021 Winner
Winner of a flagship ITV talent initiative, selected for outstanding original television writing and given the opportunity to develop work with commissioners, producers and some of the UK's leading creative talent.
BBC Children Writersroom 2021 Winner
Selected for the BBC Children's Writersroom, earning a place in the writers' room for what became the BAFTA-winning CBBC series Crongton, developing original scripts alongside BBC commissioners, producers and an experienced television writing team.
BBC Comedy Writersroom 2019 Winner
Completed an intensive year-long television comedy development programme in London, working with acclaimed script editor Simon Carlyle and leading BBC commissioners and producers, before being launched as a television writer at BAFTA.
.png)
Copywriter
From websites and thought leadership to brand campaigns and editorial content, Zara writes copy that people actually want to read. Combining a journalist's instinct with a comedy writer's wit, she crafts sharp, human storytelling that captures your voice, cuts through the noise and leaves a lasting impression.