Writer
Ali May is a creator and writer of series with a keen interest in stories of societal and political importance, thrillers that entertain, and drama that pushes boundaries. He was born in Iran after the Islamic Revolution, grew up in the midst of the century’s longest war and he became an adult in a brutal dictatorship. To find his voice, he moved to the UK to study a master’s in creative writing. He became a journalist, reporting on the Middle East’s politics and economy for Bloomberg, then worked for euronews as their UK Correspondent, and for the BBC on investigative projects. Since his transition into the series world, he has drawn on his professional experiences and tumultuous personal journey to develop original projects as well as create and write for some of the hottest producers in Europe and beyond. His original series Revolution is in development with France Télévisions. Ali is also developing a true crime drama series with a Canadian production company and a spy thriller series with a German production company. His theatre work include his original play Homecoming which he developed during a writing residency with Northcott Theatre, and Theatre Royal Plymouth’s second run of The 24 Hour Plays, performing July 2025. He was shortlisted for BBC Pilot and was a part of the BBC Voices writer development programme in 2025.
Creator, Writer & Executive Producer
Revolution tells the story of a veteran war photographer who returns to Tehran after decades of exile to save his granddaughter, who is wanted for defying the regime. In development with France Télévisions.
Developing a true crime drama series with Canadian production company, Connections TV.
Developing a spy thriller series with German production company, Good Friends.
A young Iranian woman’s protest against a repressive regime escalates into a struggle for survival. What begins as a pursuit for revenge after her girlfriend’s hanging, sparks a deadly movement that targets the dictatorship’s core.
Finalist: Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition 2024
Ali participated in HearFirst Productions’ third Play In A Day event at Colab Theatre, Southwark, London, where 6 writers and 6 directors have 24 hours to make a 10-minute play from scratch! Performed Sunday 12th October 2025 at 7pm.
The Bunker is a sharp, dark comedy about a supposedly perfect underground refuge thrown into chaos by its first murder. As two enforcers struggle to calm the privileged few, satire and paranoia collide, revealing just how fragile “safety” really is.
Ali participated in TRP’s second run of The 24 Hour Plays, where writers work overnight to create brand-new 15-minute plays. Each writer is put in a group with a director and three actors, and the groups meet again the following morning to rehearse before performing their 24 Hour Play in front of a live audience that evening. Performance: Saturday 5th July 2025.
I Drink Oat Milk (And Other Lies) is a sharp, witty satire set on a chaotic TV talk show, where a celebrity chef, his MP partner, and a cunning host expose one another’s secrets and hypocrisies. As the façade of polished public personas crumbles, the show spirals into a hilariously messy battle of truth, lies, and ego.
Ali worked on his original play during a writing residency in creative collaboration with Sam Parker, Artist Development Producer, for which there was a rehearsed reading at the theatre in May 2025 – watch it here.
Homecoming is a tense, gripping drama about a journalist returning to Iran who finds himself entangled in state scrutiny, old wounds, and a dangerous sense of déjà vu. As the past resurfaces and paranoia closes in, he must decide what—and who—he’s willing to risk.
Creator & Head Writer
A six-part limited series for Zentropa (Denmark), produced by Karoline Leth. Set in Tanzania, and enriched by true events, the series highlights the tensions and contradictions of the hunting eco-system: race, gender, sustainability and the ethics of hunting and poaching for survival and conservation.
Creator & Co-Writer
For Vertigo Films (Finland), with Matti Laine, created the pitch and wrote the pilot for the project. It won development funding from the Finnish Film Foundation and was selected as a finalist at C21 International Drama Series Pitch 2022.
Development Consultant
Provided early development strategy consultancy to AR Content (Russia) and designed the pitch. Red Rainbow went on to win the best project in Series Mania Forum 2021.
BBC Voices Writer Development Programme, 2025
Midscale Playwriting Programme, Exeter Northcott Theatre, 2025
John Yorke Story — Running the Show with Jeff Melvoin, 2024
MediaXchange — Storytelling for Scripted Television with John Yorke, 2022
Curtis Brown Creative — Writing an Original TV Drama with Colin Teevan, 2021
Brunel University, London — Creative & Professional Writing MA, 2006-2007
Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran — English Language & Literature BA, 1999-2003
Producer for BBC One, Newsnight, Radio 4 PM and World at One (2018-2020)
Judge, The British Documentary Awards, The Grierson Trust (2019)
Consultant for Durex, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lego (2015-2017)
UK Correspondent & News Producer, euronews (2010-2014)
Middle East Reporter, Bloomberg News (2008-2010)
Blogger, The Independent (2007-2008)
| Current | ||
|---|---|---|
| Production | Company | Notes |
| Revolution | Spiro Films / Haut et Court / France Télévisions | Creator, Writer & Executive Producer |
| Moncton | Connections TV | Developing a true crime drama series with Canadian production company, Connections TV. |
| Double Cross | Good Friends Filmproduktions GmbH | Developing a spy thriller series with German production company, Good Friends. |
| Disobedience | Original Spec Script | A young Iranian woman’s protest against a repressive regime escalates into a struggle for survival. What begins as a pursuit for revenge after her girlfriend’s hanging, sparks a deadly movement that targets the dictatorship’s core. Finalist: Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition 2024 |
| Theatre | ||
|---|---|---|
| Production | Company | Notes |
| The Bunker (2025) | HearFirst Productions / Colab Theatre | Ali participated in HearFirst Productions’ third Play In A Day event at Colab Theatre, Southwark, London, where 6 writers and 6 directors have 24 hours to make a 10-minute play from scratch! Performed Sunday 12th October 2025 at 7pm. The Bunker is a sharp, dark comedy about a supposedly perfect underground refuge thrown into chaos by its first murder. As two enforcers struggle to calm the privileged few, satire and paranoia collide, revealing just how fragile “safety” really is. |
| I Drink Oat Milk (and Other Lies) (2025) | Theatre Royal Plymouth | Ali participated in TRP’s second run of The 24 Hour Plays, where writers work overnight to create brand-new 15-minute plays. Each writer is put in a group with a director and three actors, and the groups meet again the following morning to rehearse before performing their 24 Hour Play in front of a live audience that evening. Performance: Saturday 5th July 2025. I Drink Oat Milk (And Other Lies) is a sharp, witty satire set on a chaotic TV talk show, where a celebrity chef, his MP partner, and a cunning host expose one another’s secrets and hypocrisies. As the façade of polished public personas crumbles, the show spirals into a hilariously messy battle of truth, lies, and ego. |
| Homecoming (2024-2025) | Exeter Northcott Theatre | Ali worked on his original play during a writing residency in creative collaboration with Sam Parker, Artist Development Producer, for which there was a rehearsed reading at the theatre in May 2025 – watch it here. Homecoming is a tense, gripping drama about a journalist returning to Iran who finds himself entangled in state scrutiny, old wounds, and a dangerous sense of déjà vu. As the past resurfaces and paranoia closes in, he must decide what—and who—he’s willing to risk. |
| Television | ||
|---|---|---|
| Production | Company | Notes |
| Hunting Annika | Zentropa | Creator & Head Writer |
| Sea of Lies (2021-2022) | Vertigo Films | Creator & Co-Writer |
| Red Rainbow (2020) | AR Content | Development Consultant |
| Specialist Training | ||
|---|---|---|
BBC Voices Writer Development Programme, 2025 Midscale Playwriting Programme, Exeter Northcott Theatre, 2025 John Yorke Story — Running the Show with Jeff Melvoin, 2024 MediaXchange — Storytelling for Scripted Television with John Yorke, 2022 Curtis Brown Creative — Writing an Original TV Drama with Colin Teevan, 2021 |
| Education | ||
|---|---|---|
Brunel University, London — Creative & Professional Writing MA, 2006-2007 Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran — English Language & Literature BA, 1999-2003 |
| Other | ||
|---|---|---|
Producer for BBC One, Newsnight, Radio 4 PM and World at One (2018-2020) Judge, The British Documentary Awards, The Grierson Trust (2019) Consultant for Durex, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lego (2015-2017) UK Correspondent & News Producer, euronews (2010-2014) Middle East Reporter, Bloomberg News (2008-2010) Blogger, The Independent (2007-2008) |