John Yorke

Consultant / Course Director , Narrative expert

John Yorke is widely acknowledged as the UK’s foremost expert on story.

He has spent years analysing not just how stories work but why they resonate with audiences around the globe, and his book, Into the Woods, is the UK’s bestselling book on the subject.

As former Head of Channel4 Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and MD of Company Pictures, John has tested his theories during an extensive production career working on some of the world’s most lucrative, widely viewed and critically acclaimed TV drama, from EastEnders to Shameless, Life on Mars and Wolf Hall.

John founded and leads both John Yorke Story and the hugely successful BBC Studios Writers’ Academy.

He has trained some of the most successful and prolific screenwriters working today, who have created on gone on to write for shows including The Crown, Killing Eve, Pure, Father Brown, Doctor Who, Watership Down, and Deadwater Fell. Alumni have nominations and wins for a range of awards, including an Emmy, Oscar, and BAFTA.

His awards include:

Golden Globe, 2016 – Wolf Hall (Exec Producer)
2 BAFTAs, 2016 – Wolf Hall (Exec Producer)
BAFTA, 2019 – Eastenders (Story Consultant)

John’s approach to story

As outlined in Into the Woods, John’s premise is that a universal structure underpins all successful stories, whatever their genre, format or content. Once we recognise why all narratives share a common act structure, we become able to tell any story – and communicate any message – more successfully.

Into the Woods appears on the reading list of every university writing course in the UK and is a highly regarded read among TV, film, radio and podcast, video games, publishing and advertising professionals.

Speaker and consultant

John’s a keynote speaker, appearing at conferences and symposiums around the world including VAF Story Conference, Game Developers Conference, London Screenwriters’ Festival, and the ScreenCraft Writers Summit.

He works as a story consultant for organisations including Ogilvy, The European Speechwriters Network, The Market Research Society, Verizon, Freemantle Media and the BBC.

Throughout 2023, John is hosting the BBC Radio 4 series Opening Lines and unpacking popular stories.

Listen to John’s Spotify playlist

Angel Station

As Managing Director of Angel Station, John works as a drama producer, consultant and lecturer on all forms of storytelling.

Award-winning Irish soap opera Red Rock, co-produced by Angel Station and Element Pictures, launched on TV3 in January 2015 to critical acclaim. The series was sold to Amazon Prime, after being broadcast daily on BBC Daytime from 2016.

To contact John about Angel Station, please email: [email protected].

Working with John

What people say

Martin Lee

Acacia Avenue

“John is one of those rare speakers who has deep expertise but wears it lightly. He held our audience spellbound with great insight and superb examples, delivered with a mixture of intelligence and humour that was exactly what our event needed.”

Sandra Hebron

Head of Screen Arts, National Film & Television School

“Story lies at the heart of everything we do at the NFTS. John’s witty, wide ranging and informative talks, tailored to our students’ needs, are unmissable events in our Screen Arts calendar.”

Steve Gerry

Secretary, Plymouth Manufacturers' Group

“I knew when I saw John’s slides the night before that we were in for a treat and he didn’t disappoint. It was a fascinating insight into the way in which storytelling applies to the business world.”

Amy Flanagan

Deputy Head of Documentaries, Channel 4

“John ran a session for the Channel4 Cutting Edge Directors’ scheme. It was fascinating, and he used an extraordinarily broad range of cultural references in a brilliantly accessible way. We would jump at the chance of working with him again.”