ITV1 has announced the cast of Britannia High, the new musical drama set to be one of the TV events of 2008.
Britannia High’s Director of Choreography, Arlene Phillips and acclaimed theatre producer David Ian devised the original idea for the series. Along with the production team led by Series Producer Brian Grant and Producer Gareth Philips, they have spent the past six months selecting the drama’s super-talented performers who sing, dance and act in a fictional performing arts school.
Britannia High is a contemporary British performing arts school. The cast will play a close knit group of six students, all sharing the same hopes and dreams of success.
The drama series sees the students learning how to make their own mark on the world.
They’re learning to be the best they can, in every possible sense, learning as much about life, themselves and each other as they do about their art.
We follow the lives and loves of Danny, Lauren, Claudine, BB, Jez and Lola, through their first days and months at the school over eight hour-long episodes of the drama.
The series climaxes in a 90-minute finale, taking the form of an end-of-term Students’ Showcase, featuring performances from the cast, intertwined with drama segments that conclude the story and journey of the characters.
Viewers will be given an insight into the show’s casting process before the drama transmits in two specially-filmed 60 minute documentaries, produced by Sarah Woolley.
These episodes will serve as an introduction to the drama itself, as documentary cameras go behind the scenes to meet the writers of the show, its composers, led by Gary Barlow, and see Arlene Phillips in action, putting the cast through their paces.
Starring in the most talked about television event of 2008 are: Marcquelle Ward, Sapphire Ella, Mitch Hewer, Georgina Hagen, Rana Roy and Matthew James Thomas.
Marcquelle Ward hit the limelight last year winning a TV dance competition; he will play BB, who considers himself to be to the Fifty Cent of Britannia High, but is the most grounded and mature of all the students.
Sapphire Elia, best known for her role as Gemma Craig in Dream Team, is Claudine, show-business is in her blood and she’s determined to make it by any means necessary.
Mitch Hewer, famous for his role as Maxxie in Skins, will star as Danny, Britannia High’s exceptional and all round talent, brimming with wit and charm.
Georgina Hagen, who appeared in the last series of Tracey Beaker in addition to numerous theatre roles, plays Lauren, who comes from a small town and a close family and feels lost amongst the huge personalities at Britannia High.
Rana Roy moved to London from Dubai to attend dance school and had her first taste of fame last year when she won a TV dance show; in Britannia High she will be Lola, whose eccentricities and naive optimism make her hugely popular with her friends. She also happens to be a phenomenal dancer, with moves that put Beyoncé to shame.
Matthew James Thomas, who has been acting since the age of six and starred in the Stephen Poliakoff drama, The Lost Prince, will play highly intelligent and quick witted Jez, who finally finds a sense of belonging when he enrols at Britannia High.
Also starring are: Mark Benton as Principal Nugent, Michele Austin as eccentric landlady Mrs Troy and Lorraine Pilkington as music mentor Anna and Chris Jarvis as dance mentor Jason. All have an important impact on the student’s lives, guiding them on their road to find out who they are and who they really want to be.
Gareth Philips, Producer of Britannia High, led the team of writers that created the characters and storylines for the project, which was uniquely developed in house by the ITV Productions drama team in Manchester.
He comments: “We’ve pulled together a top notch team of writers for Britannia High, who are tremendously talented and full of enthusiasm to make this unique show the best drama on television this year.”
Writer Jonathan Harvey, whose previous credits include Coronation Street, Gimme Gimme Gimme and Murder Most Horrid, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be involved in such an exciting and original show; we’ve loved creating some exceptional characters and situations that are topical, current and accessible.”
So excited about Mitch Hewer getting a role in a prime time terrestial drama!