Developments in audio description in Europe and worldwide have not taken place evenly and while some countries started describing TV programmes for their blind populations a long time ago, others have not even started yet. There do not seem to be any fixed, international guidelines to help in the preparation of an audio described script and much controversy still surrounds the question whether it is best for the writer to read the script or simply write it. In addition to these challenges, the technical reception of audio description is also a complex issue where technological requirements may sometimes clash with audience expectation. This dossier investigates all of these issues form a historical perspective and attempts to map out the current situation. It also reflects on the different skills needed to become a professional describer and investigates some of the existing guidelines that propose ways of producing high quality audio description scripts.