diff --git a/client-v3/e2e/tests/14-user-settings.spec.ts b/client-v3/e2e/tests/14-user-settings.spec.ts
index 3c31e9384..9eb2fabf0 100644
--- a/client-v3/e2e/tests/14-user-settings.spec.ts
+++ b/client-v3/e2e/tests/14-user-settings.spec.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,97 @@ test('switches to Stage Direction Styles tab', async () => {
   await expect(page.locator('#stage-directions-table')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
 });
 
+// ── Default Stage Direction Style ─────────────────────────────────────────
+
+test('"Default Stage Direction Style" section is visible', async () => {
+  await expect(page.locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style")')).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('default preview uses darkslateblue before any override', async () => {
+  // The card's example element should reflect the built-in fallback colour
+  const preview = page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style")')
+    .locator('.example-stage-direction');
+  await expect(preview).toHaveCSS('background-color', 'rgb(72, 61, 139)'); // darkslateblue
+});
+
+test('"Customise" button opens the default style modal', async () => {
+  await page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style") button:has-text("Customise")')
+    .click();
+  await waitForModal(page, 'Customise Default Stage Direction Style');
+  await expect(page.locator('#default-bg-colour-input')).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('setting a custom background colour saves and updates the card preview', async () => {
+  await page.locator('#default-bg-colour-input').fill('#FF0000');
+  await confirmModal(page);
+  await waitForModalClosed(page);
+  // Reset button becomes enabled (verifies PATCH /api/v1/user/settings was persisted)
+  await expect(
+    page.locator(
+      '.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style") button:has-text("Reset to Default")'
+    )
+  ).toBeEnabled({ timeout: 5_000 });
+  // Card preview reflects saved colour (verifies WS GET_USER_SETTINGS sync updated the store)
+  const preview = page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style")')
+    .locator('.example-stage-direction');
+  await expect(preview).toHaveCSS('background-color', 'rgb(255, 0, 0)');
+});
+
+test('custom colour persists after page reload', async () => {
+  await page.reload();
+  await waitForAppReady(page);
+  await page.click('.nav-link:has-text("Stage Direction")');
+  await expect(page.locator('#stage-directions-table')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+  // Reset button enabled (colour was persisted to DB via GET /api/v1/user/settings)
+  await expect(
+    page.locator(
+      '.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style") button:has-text("Reset to Default")'
+    )
+  ).toBeEnabled({ timeout: 5_000 });
+  const preview = page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style")')
+    .locator('.example-stage-direction');
+  await expect(preview).toHaveCSS('background-color', 'rgb(255, 0, 0)');
+});
+
+test('text colour override can be enabled and saved', async () => {
+  await page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style") button:has-text("Customise")')
+    .click();
+  await waitForModal(page, 'Customise Default Stage Direction Style');
+  // Enable text colour override
+  await page.locator('.modal.show').getByText('Override text colour').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('#default-text-colour-input')).toBeVisible();
+  await page.locator('#default-text-colour-input').fill('#FFFFFF');
+  await confirmModal(page);
+  await waitForModalClosed(page);
+  // Preview text colour should update (white text on red background)
+  const preview = page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style")')
+    .locator('.example-stage-direction');
+  await expect(preview).toHaveCSS('color', 'rgb(255, 255, 255)', { timeout: 5_000 });
+});
+
+test('"Reset to Default" disables the Reset button and reverts the preview', async () => {
+  await page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style") button:has-text("Reset to Default")')
+    .click();
+  // Reset button becomes disabled once both overrides are cleared
+  await expect(
+    page.locator(
+      '.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style") button:has-text("Reset to Default")'
+    )
+  ).toBeDisabled({ timeout: 5_000 });
+  // Preview reverts to darkslateblue
+  const preview = page
+    .locator('.card:has-text("Default Stage Direction Style")')
+    .locator('.example-stage-direction');
+  await expect(preview).toHaveCSS('background-color', 'rgb(72, 61, 139)', { timeout: 5_000 });
+});
+
 test('"New Override" button is enabled when stage direction styles exist', async () => {
   // Scope to thead to avoid matching the "New Override" button in the Cue Colour Preferences tab
   // (BVN BTabs without lazy mounts all tab panels, so inactive tab content stays in the DOM)
diff --git a/client-v3/src/components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue b/client-v3/src/components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue
index 6bf13b507..a685f979a 100644
--- a/client-v3/src/components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue
+++ b/client-v3/src/components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ import { useScriptDisplay } from '@/composables/useScriptDisplay';
 import { toast } from '@/js/toast';
 import type { ScriptLine, StageDirectionStyle } from '@/types/api/script';
 import type { Act, Scene, Character, CharacterGroup } from '@/types/api/show';
+import type { UserSettings } from '@/types/api/user';
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   line: ScriptLine;
@@ -261,7 +262,10 @@ const currentStyle = computed(() =>
 );
 
 const stageDirectionStylingWithCuts = computed<Record<string, string>>(() => {
-  const base = stageDirectionStyling(currentStyle.value);
+  const base = stageDirectionStyling(currentStyle.value, {
+    background_colour: (userStore.userSettings as UserSettings).default_sd_background_colour,
+    text_colour: (userStore.userSettings as UserSettings).default_sd_text_colour,
+  });
   const firstPartId = props.line.line_parts[0]?.id;
   if (firstPartId != null && props.linePartCuts.includes(firstPartId)) {
     const existing = base['text-decoration-line'];
diff --git a/client-v3/src/components/show/live/ScriptLineViewer.vue b/client-v3/src/components/show/live/ScriptLineViewer.vue
index 05e2017ac..256909d4a 100644
--- a/client-v3/src/components/show/live/ScriptLineViewer.vue
+++ b/client-v3/src/components/show/live/ScriptLineViewer.vue
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@ import { LINE_TYPES } from '@/constants/lineTypes';
 import type { ScriptLine, ScriptCut, StageDirectionStyle } from '@/types/api/script';
 import type { Act, Scene, Character, CharacterGroup } from '@/types/api/show';
 import type { CueType } from '@/types/api/cues';
+import type { UserSettings } from '@/types/api/user';
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   line: ScriptLine;
@@ -359,7 +360,12 @@ const sceneLabel = computed(
 const stageDirectionStyle = computed(() =>
   getStageDirectionStyle(props.line, props.stageDirectionStyles, props.stageDirectionStyleOverrides)
 );
-const stageDirectionStylingObj = computed(() => computeStyling(stageDirectionStyle.value));
+const stageDirectionStylingObj = computed(() =>
+  computeStyling(stageDirectionStyle.value, {
+    background_colour: (userStore.userSettings as UserSettings).default_sd_background_colour,
+    text_colour: (userStore.userSettings as UserSettings).default_sd_text_colour,
+  })
+);
 
 const scriptTextAlign = computed(() => computeTextAlign(userStore.userSettings));
 const headingStyle = computed(() => ({ textAlign: scriptTextAlign.value }));
diff --git a/client-v3/src/components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue b/client-v3/src/components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue
index 2f3279756..87769d873 100644
--- a/client-v3/src/components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue
+++ b/client-v3/src/components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,63 @@
 <template>
   <div>
+    <!-- Default stage direction style section -->
+    <BCard class="mb-3">
+      <template #header>
+        <strong>Default Stage Direction Style</strong>
+      </template>
+      <p class="text-muted small mb-2">
+        Applied to stage direction lines that have no specific style assigned.
+      </p>
+      <div class="d-flex align-items-center gap-3 flex-wrap">
+        <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="defaultExampleCss">
+          {{ exampleText }}
+        </i>
+        <BButton variant="outline-primary" @click="defaultModal?.show()">Customise</BButton>
+        <BButton
+          variant="outline-secondary"
+          :disabled="!hasDefaultOverride || isSubmittingDefault"
+          @click="resetDefaultStyle"
+        >
+          Reset to Default
+        </BButton>
+      </div>
+    </BCard>
+
+    <!-- Default style edit modal -->
+    <BModal
+      ref="defaultModal"
+      title="Customise Default Stage Direction Style"
+      size="lg"
+      :ok-disabled="isSubmittingDefault"
+      @show="openDefaultModal"
+      @ok.prevent="onSubmitDefaultStyle"
+    >
+      <div class="mb-3">
+        <h4>Preview</h4>
+        <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="defaultFormExampleCss">
+          {{ exampleText }}
+        </i>
+      </div>
+      <BFormGroup label="Background Colour" label-for="default-bg-colour-input">
+        <BFormInput
+          id="default-bg-colour-input"
+          v-model="defaultFormState.backgroundColour"
+          type="color"
+        />
+      </BFormGroup>
+      <BFormGroup label="Text Colour" label-for="default-text-colour-input">
+        <BFormCheckbox v-model="defaultFormState.enableTextColour" switch class="mb-1">
+          Override text colour
+        </BFormCheckbox>
+        <BFormInput
+          v-if="defaultFormState.enableTextColour"
+          id="default-text-colour-input"
+          v-model="defaultFormState.textColour"
+          type="color"
+        />
+      </BFormGroup>
+    </BModal>
+
     <template v-if="systemStore.currentShow != null">
       <BTable
         id="stage-directions-table"
@@ -251,6 +309,7 @@ import { useSystemStore } from '@/stores/system';
 import { useFormValidation } from '@/composables/useFormValidation';
 import { usePagination } from '@/composables/usePagination';
 import type { StageDirectionStyle } from '@/types/api/script';
+import type { UserSettings } from '@/types/api/user';
 
 interface StyleOption {
   caption: string;
@@ -278,14 +337,52 @@ const { perPage, currentPage } = usePagination(15, 'user_stage_direction_styles'
 const stageDirectionStyles = ref<StageDirectionStyle[]>([]);
 const isSubmittingNew = ref(false);
 const isSubmittingEdit = ref(false);
+const isSubmittingDefault = ref(false);
 const isDeleting = ref(false);
 const pendingDeleteId = ref<number | null>(null);
 
+const defaultModal = ref<InstanceType<typeof BModal>>();
 const selectModal = ref<InstanceType<typeof BModal>>();
 const newModal = ref<InstanceType<typeof BModal>>();
 const editModal = ref<InstanceType<typeof BModal>>();
 const deleteModal = ref<InstanceType<typeof BModal>>();
 
+const defaultFormState = ref({
+  backgroundColour: '#483d8b',
+  enableTextColour: false,
+  textColour: '#FFFFFF',
+});
+
+const settings = computed(() => userStore.userSettings as UserSettings);
+
+const hasDefaultOverride = computed(
+  () =>
+    settings.value.default_sd_background_colour != null ||
+    settings.value.default_sd_text_colour != null
+);
+
+const defaultExampleCss = computed((): Record<string, string> => {
+  const result: Record<string, string> = {
+    'background-color': settings.value.default_sd_background_colour ?? 'darkslateblue',
+    'font-style': 'italic',
+  };
+  if (settings.value.default_sd_text_colour) {
+    result['color'] = settings.value.default_sd_text_colour;
+  }
+  return result;
+});
+
+const defaultFormExampleCss = computed((): Record<string, string> => {
+  const result: Record<string, string> = {
+    'background-color': defaultFormState.value.backgroundColour,
+    'font-style': 'italic',
+  };
+  if (defaultFormState.value.enableTextColour) {
+    result['color'] = defaultFormState.value.textColour;
+  }
+  return result;
+});
+
 const newStyleFormState = ref({
   styleId: null as number | null,
   styleOptions: defaultStyleOptions(),
@@ -366,6 +463,41 @@ const editFormExampleCss = computed((): Record<string, string> => {
   return style;
 });
 
+function openDefaultModal(): void {
+  const s = settings.value;
+  defaultFormState.value.backgroundColour = s.default_sd_background_colour ?? '#483d8b';
+  defaultFormState.value.enableTextColour = s.default_sd_text_colour != null;
+  defaultFormState.value.textColour = s.default_sd_text_colour ?? '#FFFFFF';
+}
+
+async function onSubmitDefaultStyle(): Promise<void> {
+  if (isSubmittingDefault.value) return;
+  isSubmittingDefault.value = true;
+  try {
+    await userStore.updateDefaultStageDirectionStyle(
+      defaultFormState.value.backgroundColour,
+      defaultFormState.value.enableTextColour ? defaultFormState.value.textColour : null
+    );
+    defaultModal.value?.hide();
+  } catch (e) {
+    log.error('Error updating default stage direction style:', e);
+  } finally {
+    isSubmittingDefault.value = false;
+  }
+}
+
+async function resetDefaultStyle(): Promise<void> {
+  if (isSubmittingDefault.value) return;
+  isSubmittingDefault.value = true;
+  try {
+    await userStore.updateDefaultStageDirectionStyle(null, null);
+  } catch (e) {
+    log.error('Error resetting default stage direction style:', e);
+  } finally {
+    isSubmittingDefault.value = false;
+  }
+}
+
 onMounted(async () => {
   if (systemStore.currentShow) {
     try {
diff --git a/client-v3/src/composables/useScriptDisplay.ts b/client-v3/src/composables/useScriptDisplay.ts
index df7ca04b6..d66ef2ab2 100644
--- a/client-v3/src/composables/useScriptDisplay.ts
+++ b/client-v3/src/composables/useScriptDisplay.ts
@@ -15,8 +15,18 @@ function getStageDirectionStyle(
   return override ? override.settings : style;
 }
 
-function stageDirectionStyling(style: StageDirectionStyle | null): Record<string, string> {
-  if (!style) return { 'background-color': 'darkslateblue', 'font-style': 'italic' };
+function stageDirectionStyling(
+  style: StageDirectionStyle | null,
+  defaultColors?: { background_colour?: string | null; text_colour?: string | null }
+): Record<string, string> {
+  if (!style) {
+    const result: Record<string, string> = {
+      'background-color': defaultColors?.background_colour ?? 'darkslateblue',
+      'font-style': 'italic',
+    };
+    if (defaultColors?.text_colour) result['color'] = defaultColors.text_colour;
+    return result;
+  }
   const result: Record<string, string> = {
     'font-weight': style.bold ? 'bold' : 'normal',
     'font-style': style.italic ? 'italic' : 'normal',
diff --git a/client-v3/src/stores/user.ts b/client-v3/src/stores/user.ts
index 728739f8d..0480c7639 100644
--- a/client-v3/src/stores/user.ts
+++ b/client-v3/src/stores/user.ts
@@ -246,6 +246,20 @@ export const useUserStore = defineStore('user', {
       }
     },
 
+    async updateDefaultStageDirectionStyle(
+      backgroundColour: string | null,
+      textColour: string | null
+    ): Promise<void> {
+      await fetch(makeURL('/api/v1/user/settings'), {
+        method: 'PATCH',
+        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+        body: JSON.stringify({
+          default_sd_background_colour: backgroundColour,
+          default_sd_text_colour: textColour,
+        }),
+      });
+    },
+
     async updateTablePageSize(tableKey: string, value: number): Promise<void> {
       const current = (this.userSettings as UserSettings).table_page_sizes ?? {};
       await fetch(makeURL('/api/v1/user/settings'), {
diff --git a/client-v3/src/types/api/user.ts b/client-v3/src/types/api/user.ts
index 50eb57915..e6fa8dfbd 100644
--- a/client-v3/src/types/api/user.ts
+++ b/client-v3/src/types/api/user.ts
@@ -25,4 +25,6 @@ export interface UserSettings {
   character_combined_dropdown: boolean;
   preferred_ui: string | null;
   table_page_sizes: Record<string, number> | null;
+  default_sd_text_colour: string | null;
+  default_sd_background_colour: string | null;
 }
diff --git a/client/src/mixins/scriptDisplayMixin.ts b/client/src/mixins/scriptDisplayMixin.ts
index f2ad3f92a..aa928ce80 100644
--- a/client/src/mixins/scriptDisplayMixin.ts
+++ b/client/src/mixins/scriptDisplayMixin.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,15 @@ export default defineComponent({
     stageDirectionStyling(): Record<string, string> {
       const line: ScriptLine = (this as any).line;
       if (line.stage_direction_style_id == null || (this as any).stageDirectionStyle == null) {
-        return { 'background-color': 'darkslateblue', 'font-style': 'italic' };
+        const userSettings = (this as any).USER_SETTINGS ?? {};
+        const result: Record<string, string> = {
+          'background-color': userSettings.default_sd_background_colour ?? 'darkslateblue',
+          'font-style': 'italic',
+        };
+        if (userSettings.default_sd_text_colour) {
+          result['color'] = userSettings.default_sd_text_colour;
+        }
+        return result;
       }
       const style: StageDirectionStyle = (this as any).stageDirectionStyle;
       const result: Record<string, string> = {
diff --git a/client/src/types/api/user.ts b/client/src/types/api/user.ts
index 9795e389e..0f83bee87 100644
--- a/client/src/types/api/user.ts
+++ b/client/src/types/api/user.ts
@@ -24,4 +24,6 @@ export interface UserSettings {
   character_mru_sort: boolean;
   character_combined_dropdown: boolean;
   table_page_sizes: Record<string, number> | null;
+  default_sd_text_colour: string | null;
+  default_sd_background_colour: string | null;
 }
diff --git a/client/src/vue_components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue b/client/src/vue_components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue
index d901cf3d5..5afdf2492 100644
--- a/client/src/vue_components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue
+++ b/client/src/vue_components/show/config/script/ScriptLineViewer.vue
@@ -309,28 +309,11 @@ export default defineComponent({
     },
     stageDirectionStylingWithCuts(): Record<string, string> {
       const line = this.line as any;
-      const stageDirectionStyle = (this as any).stageDirectionStyle;
-      if (line.stage_direction_style_id == null || stageDirectionStyle == null) {
-        const style: Record<string, string> = {
-          'background-color': 'darkslateblue',
-          'font-style': 'italic',
-        };
-        if ((this.linePartCuts as any[]).indexOf(line.line_parts[0].id) !== -1) {
-          style['text-decoration'] = 'line-through';
-        }
-        return style;
-      }
-      const style: Record<string, string> = {
-        'font-weight': stageDirectionStyle.bold ? 'bold' : 'normal',
-        'font-style': stageDirectionStyle.italic ? 'italic' : 'normal',
-        'text-decoration-line': stageDirectionStyle.underline ? 'underline' : 'none',
-        color: stageDirectionStyle.text_colour,
-      };
-      if (stageDirectionStyle.enable_background_colour) {
-        style['background-color'] = stageDirectionStyle.background_colour;
-      }
+      const style = { ...(this as any).stageDirectionStyling };
       if ((this.linePartCuts as any[]).indexOf(line.line_parts[0].id) !== -1) {
-        style['text-decoration-line'] = `${style['text-decoration-line']} line-through`;
+        const existing = style['text-decoration-line'];
+        style['text-decoration-line'] =
+          existing && existing !== 'none' ? `${existing} line-through` : 'line-through';
       }
       return style;
     },
diff --git a/client/src/vue_components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue b/client/src/vue_components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue
index e07eff0b4..03c0b795a 100644
--- a/client/src/vue_components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue
+++ b/client/src/vue_components/user/settings/StageDirectionStyles.vue
@@ -1,268 +1,327 @@
 <template>
-  <b-table
-    v-if="CURRENT_SHOW != null"
-    id="stage-directions-table"
-    :items="tableData"
-    :fields="columns"
-    :per-page="rowsPerPage"
-    :current-page="currentPage"
-    show-empty
-  >
-    <template #head(btn)="data">
-      <b-button
-        v-b-modal.new-override-select
-        variant="outline-success"
-        :disabled="overrideChoices.length <= 1"
-      >
-        New Override
-      </b-button>
-      <b-modal
-        id="new-override-select"
-        ref="new-override-select"
-        title="Add New Override"
-        :ok-disabled="newStyleFormState.styleId == null || isSubmittingNew"
-        @show="resetOverrideSelect"
-        @ok="openNewOverrideModal"
-      >
-        <b-form>
-          <b-form-select v-model="newStyleFormState.styleId" :options="overrideChoices" />
-        </b-form>
-      </b-modal>
-      <b-modal
-        id="new-override-modal"
-        ref="new-override-modal"
-        title="Add New Override"
-        size="lg"
-        :ok-disabled="isSubmittingNew"
-        @hidden="resetNewFormState"
-        @ok="onSubmitNewOverride"
-      >
-        <div>
-          <h4>Example Stage Direction</h4>
-          <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="newFormExampleCss">
-            <template v-if="newStyleFormState.textFormat === 'upper'">
-              {{ exampleText | uppercase }}
-            </template>
-            <template v-else-if="newStyleFormState.textFormat === 'lower'">
-              {{ exampleText | lowercase }}
-            </template>
-            <template v-else>
-              {{ exampleText }}
-            </template>
-          </i>
-        </div>
-        <div>
-          <h4>Configuration Options</h4>
-          <b-form ref="new-config-form" @ok="onSubmitNewOverride">
-            <b-form-group
-              id="new-styling-group"
-              label="Default Styles"
-              label-for="new-styling-input"
-            >
-              <b-button-group id="new-styling-input">
-                <b-button
-                  v-for="(btn, idx) in $v.newStyleFormState.styleOptions.$model"
-                  :key="idx"
-                  :pressed.sync="btn.state"
-                  variant="primary"
-                >
-                  {{ btn.caption }}
-                </b-button>
-              </b-button-group>
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              id="new-text-formatting-group"
-              label="Default Text Format"
-              label-for="new-text-format-input"
-            >
-              <b-form-select
-                id="new-text-format-input"
-                v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.textFormat.$model"
-              >
-                <b-form-select-option value="default"> Default </b-form-select-option>
-                <b-form-select-option value="upper"> Uppercase </b-form-select-option>
-                <b-form-select-option value="lower"> Lowercase </b-form-select-option>
-              </b-form-select>
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              id="new-text-colour-input-group"
-              label="Text Colour"
-              label-for="new-text-colour-input"
-            >
-              <b-form-input
-                id="new-text-colour-input"
-                v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.textColour.$model"
-                name="new-text-colour-input"
-                type="color"
-                :state="validateNewStyleState('textColour')"
-                aria-describedby="new-colour-feedback"
-              />
-              <b-form-invalid-feedback id="new-colour-feedback">
-                This is a required field.
-              </b-form-invalid-feedback>
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              id="new-background-colour-enable-group"
-              label="Background Colour"
-              label-for="new-background-colour-enable"
-            >
-              <b-form-checkbox
-                id="new-background-colour-enable"
-                v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour.$model"
-                :switch="true"
-              />
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              v-if="newStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour"
-              id="new-background-colour-input-group"
-            >
-              <b-form-input
-                id="new-background-colour-picker"
-                v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.backgroundColour.$model"
-                name="new-background-colour-picker"
-                type="color"
-                :state="validateNewStyleState('textColour')"
-              />
-            </b-form-group>
-          </b-form>
-        </div>
-      </b-modal>
-      <b-modal
-        id="edit-override-modal"
-        ref="edit-override-modal"
-        title="Edit Override"
-        size="lg"
-        :ok-disabled="isSubmittingEdit"
-        @hidden="resetEditFormState"
-        @ok="onSubmitEditOverride"
-      >
-        <div>
-          <h4>Example Stage Direction</h4>
-          <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="editFormExampleCss">
-            <template v-if="editStyleFormState.textFormat === 'upper'">
-              {{ exampleText | uppercase }}
-            </template>
-            <template v-else-if="editStyleFormState.textFormat === 'lower'">
-              {{ exampleText | lowercase }}
-            </template>
-            <template v-else>
-              {{ exampleText }}
-            </template>
-          </i>
-        </div>
-        <div>
-          <h4>Configuration Options</h4>
-          <b-form ref="edit-config-form" @ok="onSubmitEditOverride">
-            <b-form-group
-              id="edit-styling-group"
-              label="Default Styles"
-              label-for="edit-styling-input"
-            >
-              <b-button-group id="edit-styling-input">
-                <b-button
-                  v-for="(btn, idx) in $v.editStyleFormState.styleOptions.$model"
-                  :key="idx"
-                  :pressed.sync="btn.state"
-                  variant="primary"
-                >
-                  {{ btn.caption }}
-                </b-button>
-              </b-button-group>
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              id="edit-text-formatting-group"
-              label="Default Text Format"
-              label-for="edit-text-format-input"
-            >
-              <b-form-select
-                id="edit-text-format-input"
-                v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.textFormat.$model"
-              >
-                <b-form-select-option value="default"> Default </b-form-select-option>
-                <b-form-select-option value="upper"> Uppercase </b-form-select-option>
-                <b-form-select-option value="lower"> Lowercase </b-form-select-option>
-              </b-form-select>
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              id="edit-text-colour-input-group"
-              label="Text Colour"
-              label-for="edit-text-colour-input"
-            >
-              <b-form-input
-                id="edit-text-colour-input"
-                v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.textColour.$model"
-                name="edit-text-colour-input"
-                type="color"
-                :state="validateEditStyleState('textColour')"
-                aria-describedby="edit-colour-feedback"
-              />
-              <b-form-invalid-feedback id="edit-colour-feedback">
-                This is a required field.
-              </b-form-invalid-feedback>
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              id="edit-background-colour-enable-group"
-              label="Background Colour"
-              label-for="edit-background-colour-enable"
-            >
-              <b-form-checkbox
-                id="edit-background-colour-enable"
-                v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour.$model"
-                :switch="true"
-              />
-            </b-form-group>
-            <b-form-group
-              v-if="editStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour"
-              id="edit-background-colour-input-group"
-            >
-              <b-form-input
-                id="edit-background-colour-picker"
-                v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.backgroundColour.$model"
-                name="edit-background-colour-picker"
-                type="color"
-                :state="validateEditStyleState('textColour')"
-              />
-            </b-form-group>
-          </b-form>
-        </div>
-      </b-modal>
-    </template>
-    <template #cell(description)="data">
-      {{ STAGE_DIRECTION_STYLES.find((elem) => elem.id === data.item.settings.id).description }}
-    </template>
-    <template #cell(example)="data">
-      <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="exampleCss(data.item.settings)">
-        <template v-if="data.item.settings.text_format === 'upper'">
-          {{ exampleText | uppercase }}
-        </template>
-        <template v-else-if="data.item.settings.text_format === 'lower'">
-          {{ exampleText | lowercase }}
-        </template>
-        <template v-else>
+  <div>
+    <!-- Default stage direction style section -->
+    <b-card class="mb-3">
+      <template #header>
+        <strong>Default Stage Direction Style</strong>
+      </template>
+      <p class="text-muted small mb-2">
+        Applied to stage direction lines that have no specific style assigned.
+      </p>
+      <div class="d-flex align-items-center flex-wrap" style="gap: 0.75rem">
+        <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="defaultExampleCss">
           {{ exampleText }}
-        </template>
-      </i>
-    </template>
-    <template #cell(btn)="data">
-      <b-button-group>
+        </i>
+        <b-button variant="outline-primary" @click="openDefaultModal">Customise</b-button>
         <b-button
-          variant="warning"
-          :disabled="isSubmittingEdit || isDeleting"
-          @click="openEditStyleForm(data)"
+          variant="outline-secondary"
+          :disabled="!hasDefaultOverride || isSubmittingDefault"
+          @click="resetDefaultStyle"
         >
-          Edit
+          Reset to Default
         </b-button>
+      </div>
+    </b-card>
+
+    <b-modal
+      id="default-sd-style-modal"
+      ref="default-sd-style-modal"
+      title="Customise Default Stage Direction Style"
+      size="lg"
+      :ok-disabled="isSubmittingDefault"
+      @ok="onSubmitDefaultStyle"
+    >
+      <div class="mb-3">
+        <h4>Preview</h4>
+        <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="defaultFormExampleCss">
+          {{ exampleText }}
+        </i>
+      </div>
+      <b-form-group label="Background Colour" label-for="default-bg-colour-input">
+        <b-form-input
+          id="default-bg-colour-input"
+          v-model="defaultFormState.backgroundColour"
+          type="color"
+        />
+      </b-form-group>
+      <b-form-group label="Text Colour">
+        <b-form-checkbox v-model="defaultFormState.enableTextColour" :switch="true" class="mb-1">
+          Override text colour
+        </b-form-checkbox>
+        <b-form-input
+          v-if="defaultFormState.enableTextColour"
+          id="default-text-colour-input"
+          v-model="defaultFormState.textColour"
+          type="color"
+        />
+      </b-form-group>
+    </b-modal>
+
+    <b-table
+      v-if="CURRENT_SHOW != null"
+      id="stage-directions-table"
+      :items="tableData"
+      :fields="columns"
+      :per-page="rowsPerPage"
+      :current-page="currentPage"
+      show-empty
+    >
+      <template #head(btn)="data">
         <b-button
-          variant="danger"
-          :disabled="isSubmittingEdit || isDeleting"
-          @click="deleteStyleOverride(data)"
+          v-b-modal.new-override-select
+          variant="outline-success"
+          :disabled="overrideChoices.length <= 1"
         >
-          Delete
+          New Override
         </b-button>
-      </b-button-group>
-    </template>
-  </b-table>
-  <b-alert v-else variant="danger"> No show loaded. </b-alert>
+        <b-modal
+          id="new-override-select"
+          ref="new-override-select"
+          title="Add New Override"
+          :ok-disabled="newStyleFormState.styleId == null || isSubmittingNew"
+          @show="resetOverrideSelect"
+          @ok="openNewOverrideModal"
+        >
+          <b-form>
+            <b-form-select v-model="newStyleFormState.styleId" :options="overrideChoices" />
+          </b-form>
+        </b-modal>
+        <b-modal
+          id="new-override-modal"
+          ref="new-override-modal"
+          title="Add New Override"
+          size="lg"
+          :ok-disabled="isSubmittingNew"
+          @hidden="resetNewFormState"
+          @ok="onSubmitNewOverride"
+        >
+          <div>
+            <h4>Example Stage Direction</h4>
+            <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="newFormExampleCss">
+              <template v-if="newStyleFormState.textFormat === 'upper'">
+                {{ exampleText | uppercase }}
+              </template>
+              <template v-else-if="newStyleFormState.textFormat === 'lower'">
+                {{ exampleText | lowercase }}
+              </template>
+              <template v-else>
+                {{ exampleText }}
+              </template>
+            </i>
+          </div>
+          <div>
+            <h4>Configuration Options</h4>
+            <b-form ref="new-config-form" @ok="onSubmitNewOverride">
+              <b-form-group
+                id="new-styling-group"
+                label="Default Styles"
+                label-for="new-styling-input"
+              >
+                <b-button-group id="new-styling-input">
+                  <b-button
+                    v-for="(btn, idx) in $v.newStyleFormState.styleOptions.$model"
+                    :key="idx"
+                    :pressed.sync="btn.state"
+                    variant="primary"
+                  >
+                    {{ btn.caption }}
+                  </b-button>
+                </b-button-group>
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                id="new-text-formatting-group"
+                label="Default Text Format"
+                label-for="new-text-format-input"
+              >
+                <b-form-select
+                  id="new-text-format-input"
+                  v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.textFormat.$model"
+                >
+                  <b-form-select-option value="default"> Default </b-form-select-option>
+                  <b-form-select-option value="upper"> Uppercase </b-form-select-option>
+                  <b-form-select-option value="lower"> Lowercase </b-form-select-option>
+                </b-form-select>
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                id="new-text-colour-input-group"
+                label="Text Colour"
+                label-for="new-text-colour-input"
+              >
+                <b-form-input
+                  id="new-text-colour-input"
+                  v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.textColour.$model"
+                  name="new-text-colour-input"
+                  type="color"
+                  :state="validateNewStyleState('textColour')"
+                  aria-describedby="new-colour-feedback"
+                />
+                <b-form-invalid-feedback id="new-colour-feedback">
+                  This is a required field.
+                </b-form-invalid-feedback>
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                id="new-background-colour-enable-group"
+                label="Background Colour"
+                label-for="new-background-colour-enable"
+              >
+                <b-form-checkbox
+                  id="new-background-colour-enable"
+                  v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour.$model"
+                  :switch="true"
+                />
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                v-if="newStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour"
+                id="new-background-colour-input-group"
+              >
+                <b-form-input
+                  id="new-background-colour-picker"
+                  v-model="$v.newStyleFormState.backgroundColour.$model"
+                  name="new-background-colour-picker"
+                  type="color"
+                  :state="validateNewStyleState('textColour')"
+                />
+              </b-form-group>
+            </b-form>
+          </div>
+        </b-modal>
+        <b-modal
+          id="edit-override-modal"
+          ref="edit-override-modal"
+          title="Edit Override"
+          size="lg"
+          :ok-disabled="isSubmittingEdit"
+          @hidden="resetEditFormState"
+          @ok="onSubmitEditOverride"
+        >
+          <div>
+            <h4>Example Stage Direction</h4>
+            <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="editFormExampleCss">
+              <template v-if="editStyleFormState.textFormat === 'upper'">
+                {{ exampleText | uppercase }}
+              </template>
+              <template v-else-if="editStyleFormState.textFormat === 'lower'">
+                {{ exampleText | lowercase }}
+              </template>
+              <template v-else>
+                {{ exampleText }}
+              </template>
+            </i>
+          </div>
+          <div>
+            <h4>Configuration Options</h4>
+            <b-form ref="edit-config-form" @ok="onSubmitEditOverride">
+              <b-form-group
+                id="edit-styling-group"
+                label="Default Styles"
+                label-for="edit-styling-input"
+              >
+                <b-button-group id="edit-styling-input">
+                  <b-button
+                    v-for="(btn, idx) in $v.editStyleFormState.styleOptions.$model"
+                    :key="idx"
+                    :pressed.sync="btn.state"
+                    variant="primary"
+                  >
+                    {{ btn.caption }}
+                  </b-button>
+                </b-button-group>
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                id="edit-text-formatting-group"
+                label="Default Text Format"
+                label-for="edit-text-format-input"
+              >
+                <b-form-select
+                  id="edit-text-format-input"
+                  v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.textFormat.$model"
+                >
+                  <b-form-select-option value="default"> Default </b-form-select-option>
+                  <b-form-select-option value="upper"> Uppercase </b-form-select-option>
+                  <b-form-select-option value="lower"> Lowercase </b-form-select-option>
+                </b-form-select>
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                id="edit-text-colour-input-group"
+                label="Text Colour"
+                label-for="edit-text-colour-input"
+              >
+                <b-form-input
+                  id="edit-text-colour-input"
+                  v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.textColour.$model"
+                  name="edit-text-colour-input"
+                  type="color"
+                  :state="validateEditStyleState('textColour')"
+                  aria-describedby="edit-colour-feedback"
+                />
+                <b-form-invalid-feedback id="edit-colour-feedback">
+                  This is a required field.
+                </b-form-invalid-feedback>
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                id="edit-background-colour-enable-group"
+                label="Background Colour"
+                label-for="edit-background-colour-enable"
+              >
+                <b-form-checkbox
+                  id="edit-background-colour-enable"
+                  v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour.$model"
+                  :switch="true"
+                />
+              </b-form-group>
+              <b-form-group
+                v-if="editStyleFormState.enableBackgroundColour"
+                id="edit-background-colour-input-group"
+              >
+                <b-form-input
+                  id="edit-background-colour-picker"
+                  v-model="$v.editStyleFormState.backgroundColour.$model"
+                  name="edit-background-colour-picker"
+                  type="color"
+                  :state="validateEditStyleState('textColour')"
+                />
+              </b-form-group>
+            </b-form>
+          </div>
+        </b-modal>
+      </template>
+      <template #cell(description)="data">
+        {{ STAGE_DIRECTION_STYLES.find((elem) => elem.id === data.item.settings.id).description }}
+      </template>
+      <template #cell(example)="data">
+        <i class="example-stage-direction" :style="exampleCss(data.item.settings)">
+          <template v-if="data.item.settings.text_format === 'upper'">
+            {{ exampleText | uppercase }}
+          </template>
+          <template v-else-if="data.item.settings.text_format === 'lower'">
+            {{ exampleText | lowercase }}
+          </template>
+          <template v-else>
+            {{ exampleText }}
+          </template>
+        </i>
+      </template>
+      <template #cell(btn)="data">
+        <b-button-group>
+          <b-button
+            variant="warning"
+            :disabled="isSubmittingEdit || isDeleting"
+            @click="openEditStyleForm(data)"
+          >
+            Edit
+          </b-button>
+          <b-button
+            variant="danger"
+            :disabled="isSubmittingEdit || isDeleting"
+            @click="deleteStyleOverride(data)"
+          >
+            Delete
+          </b-button>
+        </b-button-group>
+      </template>
+    </b-table>
+    <b-alert v-else variant="danger"> No show loaded. </b-alert>
+  </div>
 </template>
 
 <script lang="ts">
@@ -270,6 +329,7 @@ import { defineComponent } from 'vue';
 import { mapGetters, mapActions } from 'vuex';
 import { required } from 'vuelidate/lib/validators';
 import log from 'loglevel';
+import { makeURL } from '@/js/utils';
 import paginationMixin from '@/mixins/paginationMixin';
 
 interface StyleOption {
@@ -333,7 +393,13 @@ export default defineComponent({
       } as EditStyleFormState,
       isSubmittingNew: false,
       isSubmittingEdit: false,
+      isSubmittingDefault: false,
       isDeleting: false,
+      defaultFormState: {
+        backgroundColour: '#483d8b',
+        enableTextColour: false,
+        textColour: '#FFFFFF',
+      },
     };
   },
   computed: {
@@ -423,7 +489,35 @@ export default defineComponent({
         background_colour: this.editStyleFormState.backgroundColour,
       };
     },
-    ...mapGetters(['CURRENT_SHOW', 'STAGE_DIRECTION_STYLES', 'STAGE_DIRECTION_STYLE_OVERRIDES']),
+    hasDefaultOverride(): boolean {
+      const s = (this as any).USER_SETTINGS ?? {};
+      return s.default_sd_background_colour != null || s.default_sd_text_colour != null;
+    },
+    defaultExampleCss(): Record<string, string> {
+      const s = (this as any).USER_SETTINGS ?? {};
+      const result: Record<string, string> = {
+        'background-color': s.default_sd_background_colour ?? 'darkslateblue',
+        'font-style': 'italic',
+      };
+      if (s.default_sd_text_colour) result['color'] = s.default_sd_text_colour;
+      return result;
+    },
+    defaultFormExampleCss(): Record<string, string> {
+      const result: Record<string, string> = {
+        'background-color': this.defaultFormState.backgroundColour,
+        'font-style': 'italic',
+      };
+      if (this.defaultFormState.enableTextColour) {
+        result['color'] = this.defaultFormState.textColour;
+      }
+      return result;
+    },
+    ...mapGetters([
+      'CURRENT_SHOW',
+      'STAGE_DIRECTION_STYLES',
+      'STAGE_DIRECTION_STYLE_OVERRIDES',
+      'USER_SETTINGS',
+    ]),
   },
   async beforeMount(): Promise<void> {
     await (this as any).GET_SHOW_DETAILS();
@@ -600,6 +694,57 @@ export default defineComponent({
         (this as any).$bvModal.show('edit-override-modal');
       }
     },
+    openDefaultModal(): void {
+      const s = (this as any).USER_SETTINGS ?? {};
+      this.defaultFormState.backgroundColour = s.default_sd_background_colour ?? '#483d8b';
+      this.defaultFormState.enableTextColour = s.default_sd_text_colour != null;
+      this.defaultFormState.textColour = s.default_sd_text_colour ?? '#FFFFFF';
+      (this as any).$bvModal.show('default-sd-style-modal');
+    },
+    async onSubmitDefaultStyle(event: Event): Promise<void> {
+      if (this.isSubmittingDefault) {
+        event.preventDefault();
+        return;
+      }
+      this.isSubmittingDefault = true;
+      try {
+        await fetch(makeURL('/api/v1/user/settings'), {
+          method: 'PATCH',
+          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+          body: JSON.stringify({
+            default_sd_background_colour: this.defaultFormState.backgroundColour,
+            default_sd_text_colour: this.defaultFormState.enableTextColour
+              ? this.defaultFormState.textColour
+              : null,
+          }),
+        });
+      } catch (error) {
+        log.error('Error updating default stage direction style:', error);
+        (this as any).$toast.error('Failed to update default stage direction style');
+        event.preventDefault();
+      } finally {
+        this.isSubmittingDefault = false;
+      }
+    },
+    async resetDefaultStyle(): Promise<void> {
+      if (this.isSubmittingDefault) return;
+      this.isSubmittingDefault = true;
+      try {
+        await fetch(makeURL('/api/v1/user/settings'), {
+          method: 'PATCH',
+          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+          body: JSON.stringify({
+            default_sd_background_colour: null,
+            default_sd_text_colour: null,
+          }),
+        });
+      } catch (error) {
+        log.error('Error resetting default stage direction style:', error);
+        (this as any).$toast.error('Failed to reset default stage direction style');
+      } finally {
+        this.isSubmittingDefault = false;
+      }
+    },
     ...mapActions([
       'GET_SHOW_DETAILS',
       'GET_STAGE_DIRECTION_STYLES',
diff --git a/docs/pages/user_settings.md b/docs/pages/user_settings.md
index d758d4f9e..997e5322a 100644
--- a/docs/pages/user_settings.md
+++ b/docs/pages/user_settings.md
@@ -36,11 +36,29 @@ When combined with the **Sort Characters by Most Recently Used** setting, each s
 
 ### Stage Direction Styles
 
-DigiScript allows you to customize how stage directions appear in the script with personal color and style preferences:
+DigiScript allows you to customize how stage directions appear in the script with personal colour and style preferences:
 
 ![](../images/user_settings/stage_direction_styles_tab.png)
 
-You can override the system-wide stage direction styling with your own color and font style choices. This is particularly useful if you need different visual contrast or have specific accessibility needs.
+#### Default Stage Direction Style
+
+Stage direction lines with no specific style assigned use a default appearance (dark blue background with italic text). You can override this default to use any background and text colour that works best for you — this is especially useful for accessibility or colour blindness needs.
+
+To customize the default style:
+
+1. Click the **Customise** button in the **Default Stage Direction Style** section
+2. Use the **Background Colour** picker to choose your preferred background colour
+3. Optionally enable **Override text colour** and pick a custom text colour
+4. A live preview updates as you make changes
+5. Click **OK** to save
+
+To revert to the original dark blue default, click **Reset to Default**.
+
+#### Per-Style Overrides
+
+You can also override the colour and font style choices for specific named stage direction styles. This is useful when you need different visual contrast for particular style categories without affecting others.
+
+Click **New Override** to select a named style and configure your personal override for it. Use **Edit** or **Delete** on existing rows to manage your overrides.
 
 ### Cue Colour Preferences
 
diff --git a/server/alembic_config/versions/f1974e4e57d0_add_default_stage_direction_colour_.py b/server/alembic_config/versions/f1974e4e57d0_add_default_stage_direction_colour_.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..086c1ecfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/alembic_config/versions/f1974e4e57d0_add_default_stage_direction_colour_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+"""Add default stage direction colour fields to user_settings
+
+Revision ID: f1974e4e57d0
+Revises: d11cd9306d4b
+Create Date: 2026-07-07 10:53:28.601394
+
+"""
+
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "f1974e4e57d0"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "d11cd9306d4b"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    with op.batch_alter_table("user_settings", schema=None) as batch_op:
+        batch_op.add_column(
+            sa.Column("default_sd_text_colour", sa.String(), nullable=True)
+        )
+        batch_op.add_column(
+            sa.Column("default_sd_background_colour", sa.String(), nullable=True)
+        )
+
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    with op.batch_alter_table("user_settings", schema=None) as batch_op:
+        batch_op.drop_column("default_sd_background_colour")
+        batch_op.drop_column("default_sd_text_colour")
+
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/server/models/user.py b/server/models/user.py
index e2ca83377..17606b716 100644
--- a/server/models/user.py
+++ b/server/models/user.py
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ class UserSettings(db.Model):
     character_combined_dropdown: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(default=False)
     preferred_ui: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(default=None)
     table_page_sizes: Mapped[dict | None] = mapped_column(JSON, default=None)
+    default_sd_text_colour: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(default=None)
+    default_sd_background_colour: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(default=None)
 
     __table_args__ = (
         CheckConstraint(