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CBBC Announces Brand New Footy Drama Featuring Football Royalty
CBBC has announced a brand new children’s drama, Jamie Johnson, which is set to hit TV screens around the Euro 2016 Championships and features cameos from Gary Lineker, Ruud Gullit and Notts County FC’s Roy Carroll.
Produced by Short Form Film Company, the 3 x 30 minute children’s series, filmed entirely in and around Nottingham, is inspired by the book series Jamie Johnson, written by former Football Association editor Dan Freedman.
11-year-old Jamie Johnson (played by Louis Dunn) is a boy with a dream. A boy who lives and breathes football. These three episodes follow Jamie starting a new school, making new friends, dealing with school bully Dillon (played by Patrick Ward), searching for his absent father and eventually making the school’s football team, all with the support of his new friends Jack (played by Olivia Lava) and Boggie (played by Jonnie Kimmins).
The series was commissioned by Cheryl Taylor, Controller of CBBC, and executive produced by Sue Nott.
Cheryl said: "Jamie Johnson is a wonderful new drama coming to CBBC this summer - tying in perfectly with the Euros. Although the underlying theme is football, the series is not just for football fans. The storylines have a really wide appeal for all the family. We’re also delighted to announce that Jamie Johnson has been recommissioned for a second series with production starting this August.”
The series was produced by Sam Talbot and directed by Joe Talbot from Short Form Film Company.
Joe from Short Form Film Company, said: “From the first time we read the books we knew Jamie Johnson needed to be taken to the screen. It resonated with us as film makers, aspiring footballers and brought back fond memories of school life. We were delighted that CBBC shared our vision of creating a new drama series which we hope encapsulates the hopes, fears, pain and joy of our central character Jamie and all those who inhabit his wonderful world.”
Dan Freedman, author of the Jamie Johnson book series, said: "Children all over the country have been telling me just how excited they are about Jamie Johnson being brought to life and now they are going to see a cool, original, edgy drama that will speak to them on so many levels. I think the audience are going to absolutely love it."