FOREWORD by ARLENE PHILLIPS Page 5
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PRESS PACK
INTRODUCTION Page 2 FOREWORD BY ARLENE PHILLIPS Page 5 CAST LIST Page 6 MEET THE YOUNG PERFORMERS… Page 7 MEET THE TEACHERS … Page 13 MEET THE LANDLADY & THE DINNER LADY… Page 16 EPISODE SYNOPSES Page 17 CAST Q&A WITH SAPPHIRE ELIA Page 28 CAST Q&A WITH GEORGINA HAGEN Page 29 CAST Q&A WITH MITCH HEWER Page 30 CAST Q&A WITH RANA ROY Page 31 CAST Q&A WITH MATTHEW JAMES THOMAS Page 32 CAST Q&A WITH MARCQUELLE WARD Page 33 GET INTERACTIVE WITH BRITANNIA HIGH Page 34 BRITANNIA HIGH DVD Page 37 PRODUCTION CREDITS Page 38
ITV PRESS OFFICE – MANCHESTER PRESS CONTACTS: Janice Troup - 0161 827 2233 / [email protected] Natasha Bayford - 0161 827 2237 / [email protected] Sarah Fearnley - 0161 835 6351 / [email protected] PICTURE CONTACT: Dawn Comber - 0161 827 2231 / [email protected] www.itv.com/britanniahigh www.britanniahigh.com INTRODUCING ITV’S NEW MUSICAL DRAMA, BRITANNIA HIGH
New musical drama Britannia High is set to explode onto our television screens this autumn in a whirlwind of stunning dance, sensational music and unforgettable drama.
With original music composed by some of the biggest names in pop including Gary Barlow, Guy Chambers, Steve Mac, Mark Owen and Eliot Kennedy, Britannia High introduces six highly talented lead actors – Sapphire Elia, Georgina Hagen, Rana Roy, Mitch Hewer, Matthew James Thomas and Marcquelle Ward.
Created by acclaimed choreographer Arlene Phillips and theatre impresario David Ian and produced by the drama team in Manchester responsible for Coronation Street, Blue Murder and Mobile, the focus of Britannia High is a contemporary British performing arts school where the super-talented students study hard to achieve their dreams of stardom while learning important lessons about friendship, love and life. There’s also cameo appearances from some of the UK’s top recording artistes – Girls Aloud and Boyzone plus special guest appearances by Coronation Street’s Ryan Thomas, ex-Busted and I’m A Celebrity winner, Matt Willis, EastEnders and Hollyoaks actress, Gemma Bissex and comedian Richard Blackwood.
Creative Director of Choreography for Britannia High Arlene Phillips and David Ian are Executive Producers working with the ITV Productions team led by Series Producer and Lead Director Brian Grant, Producer Gareth Philips and Executive Producers Kieran Roberts, Mark Wells and for Globe Productions Anita Land, that spent six months selecting the drama’s performers who sing, dance and act in the fictional performing arts school.
In conjunction with Globe Productions, the television arm of Universal Music, Britannia High will be ITV’s most ambitious 360 degree, multi platform show to date. Extra content is planned on ITV.com, ITV mobile, ITV Red Button, ITV interactive
2 and social networking site Bebo. Fascination Records (part of the Universal Music Group) will release an album of tracks featured in the series on November 17th.
Prior to this a number of free downloads will be made available via, itv.com/britanniahigh.com, britanniahigh.com and also a partnership with iTunes and Bebo, starting with the Gary Barlow / Andy Hill / Eliot Kennedy penned theme tune “Start Of Something” on September 29th.
And in an unprecedented step for an ITV1 drama, the first episode will be available a week before network transmission at the Britannia High website – www.itv.com/britanniahigh and www.britanniahigh.com
During eight hour-long episodes and the 75 minute spectacular finale, the drama series explores the lives of the students, Claudine, Lauren, Danny, Lola, Jez and BB, as they attempt to learn how to make their mark on the world. They’re striving to be the best they possibly can be in every discipline and, as in life, there’s plenty of heartache, turmoil, laughs and fun along the way. Supporting them throughout their trials and tribulations are Principal Nugent played by Mark Benton (The Street, City Lights), and dance mentor Stefan played by Adam Garcia (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Coyote Ugly). Lorraine Pilkington (Rough Diamond, Monarch of the Glen) also stars as music mentor Anna and Michele Austin (The Last Detective, The Bill) as eccentric landlady, Mrs Troy.
The extended finale episode will be the pinnacle of the storylines played out throughout the drama. It will also feature showcase performances from the cast, who will sing, dance and act their hearts out for a specially invited studio audience.
Sapphire Elia plays Claudine, who has show business in her blood. She’s determined to make it as a singer and performer by any means necessary.
Georgina Hagen stars as Lauren, who hails from a small town and a close knit family and initially feels lost amongst the huge personalities at the school.
Mitch Hewer is Danny, Britannia High’s talented all round entertainer, who brims with wit and charm.
Rana Roy plays Lola, whose eccentricities and naive optimism make her hugely popular with her friends. She also happens to be a phenomenal dancer.
Matthew James Thomas stars as highly intelligent and quick-witted Jez, who finally finds a sense of belonging when he enrols at Britannia High. He is an incredible singer-songwriter.
Marcquelle Ward is BB, who considers himself to be the UK’s answer to Jamie Foxx, but is actually the most grounded and mature of all the students.
The Britannia High website will be the virtual home of the performing arts school, a place where fans can become involved with the ups and downs of life as a student,
3 with exclusive episodes, blogs, photographs, e-newsletters and an online radio station presented by the two school DJs and featuring music by top Universal Artists.
Social network Bebo, www.bebo.com/britanniahigh, will be the place to delve deeper into the worlds of the characters, and at the touch of the Red Button - available through Sky Digital - viewers will be able to enjoy preview and catch up video, read character profiles, check out photo galleries and take part in dance tutorials.
Fans can also visit the official Britannia High mobile site for free highlight clips of all the best bits from the series, news and gossip, plus mobile downloads including exclusive show wallpapers and tones.
Britannia High was commissioned by Paul Jackson, ITV Director of Entertainment and Comedy and Michaela Hennessy-Vass ITV Commissioning Editor, Comedy. Both feel really passionate about the project and have been involved at every step of production. “This is an exciting new format, and there isn’t anything else quite like it on British Television. We’re confident audiences are going to love it,” said Paul. “From the outset it was our intention to line up some of the biggest names in music and entertainment to make Britannia High. We hope to captivate viewers with stories of these talented young people experiencing the time of their lives, as they struggle to realise their dreams and seize the moment.”
Kieran Roberts and Mark Wells are both thrilled with the resulting drama. “Britannia High is a brilliant, high quality British drama, with the added bonus of an innovative format integrating song and dance. This is a very exciting time for all involved with Britannia High,” said Kieran.
“It’s a true hybrid of music, entertainment and drama,” added Mark. “We’re delighted Gary agreed to write the music and to be working with Arlene and David, because they have meticulously high standards. This has ensured the musical elements are spectacular.”
Britannia High is also brought to you by the writing team of Jonathan Harvey, Damon Rochefort, Julie Jones, Kirstie Falkous and John Regier, led by Producer Gareth Philips. “We’ve worked with the best of British writers on Britannia High. They’ve been committed and full of enthusiasm throughout this project as we’ve been striving to make this unique show the best drama on television this year.”
Note to Editors: Britannia High the album will be released on Fascination Records on November 17th. “ Start Of Something” will be the first of four free downloads and available from September 29th.
4 For music specific enquires please contact Chloe Melick, Polydor Publicity, 0207 471 5729
For all programme related enquires please contact the ITV Press Office, 0161 827 2233.
FOREWORD BY ARLENE PHILLIPS
The idea for Britannia High came to me after seeing a concert at my then sixteen year old daughter Abi's school. It wasn't a theatre school, but some of the musical talent had an overwhelming effect on adults and young alike, and as I left the concert I started to think about how to weave the talent I had seen that evening into some form of musical drama. I continued with my busy life as a choreographer and also judge on Strictly Come Dancing and promptly forgot all about it. A few weeks later, Abi had a number of friends round who were watching a teen programme and screaming about some young hunk. I went to sit down with them and began listening to their likes and dislikes, what they wanted to see, to do, their hopes and dreams and of course their futures. I was fired up to put pen to paper and start to create. What makes people want to sing, act, and dance? What fires them to pursue a life where humiliation is experienced on a daily basis?
I knew immediately I wanted to create a musical drama set in a high school for performing arts telling the stories of individual performers and how and why they got there. The name Britannia High came to me because a number of years ago there was a cover of Vanity Fair I fell in love with using the word Britannia, and High came from the developing years 16-18 when the path to your future is being decided. With ideas on a piece of paper, I called David Ian a producer and friend, to ask if he would be involved. I knew I wanted this to be a live show following what I hoped would be a television series first. He loved it and immediately suggested Gary Barlow for the 5 music. A meeting was arranged at Julie's Wine Bar in Notting Hill with Gary, David and Chris Neil a music producer and friend of Gary, David and I. They both loved the idea and were on board. From that moment on it was like a whirlwind of people saying yes.
Mark Wells at ITV Productions loved it, Anita Land, David Ian's agent and Executive Producer, was instrumental in talking to the powers that be at ITV and Universal and pushing this to be commissioned. As soon as Paul Jackson heard about Britannia High, our exciting roller-coaster ride from a single piece of paper to a full blown production began. Writers and producers were brought in but there was one large hole, who could direct drama and also be responsible for the high concept dance numbers? Quite by chance I was invited to a Sunday lunch with a group of friends, and who should be there but Brian Grant who I worked with in the eighties on numerous pop promos all around the world. I realised he had now reinvented himself as a serious director and producer of numerous drama series, particularly those featuring teens, and in a flash I knew we had found the person to entrust the series to. Kieran Roberts at the very early stages of the Britannia High meetings immediately knew what was needed and introduced me to Gareth Philips as a producer and the team of writers who have captured everything there is to say about Britannia High.
Auditions began in earnest and I plundered any talent that I knew or had worked with to come along. Georgina Hagen, a friend of my daughter Abi's, had sung and danced around my house since she was twelve years old. I was really excited at the early stages of auditions to find Matthew James Thomas, a brilliant triple threat followed very quickly by Sapphire Elia, who everyone fell in love with almost as soon as we had seen her. Marcquelle and Rana, the undisputed stars of DanceX could dance, but could they sing to the standard required by Gary Barlow? And Mitch Hewer the object of the screams I had first heard in my living room, I knew could act, but what else could he do?
Now there was no turning back. They say a rolling stone gathers no moss, but this rolling stone has been gathering so much moss it is rolling smoothly forward to the first episode of Britannia High.
David Ian is co-creator of Britannia High with Arlene Phillips.
CAST LIST
SAPPHIRE ELIA CLAUDINE GEORGINA HAGEN LAUREN MITCH HEWER DANNY RANA ROY LOLA MATTHEW JAMES THOMAS JEZ MARCQUELLE WARD BB
6 MICHELE AUSTIN MRS TROY MARK BENTON PRINCIPAL NUGENT ADAM GARCIA STEFAN LORRAINE PILKINGTON ANNA SOPHIE POWLES RONNIE
GUEST STARS
EPISODE TWO
NICOLA ROBERTS HERSELF KIMBERLEY WALSH HERSELF
EPISODE THREE
DANNY WEBB JACK TYLER
EPISODE FOUR GEMMA BISSIX LIZZIE PORTER RICHARD BLACKWOOD ANTON DAVIDS KEITH DUFFY HIMSELF STEPHEN GATELY HIMSELF RYAN THOMAS HIMSELF MATT WILLIS HIMSELF
MEET THE YOUNG PERFORMERS…
7 CLAUDINE (SAPPHIRE ELIA)
Total showbiz “fabulosity” is Claudine’s destiny, and she’s determined to make it by any means necessary. She has been training as a performer since the age of ten months, when she took her very first steps! She’s determined to be bigger than Mariah Carey and puts in more rehearsal hours than any of her classmates.
As she had little attention growing up, Claudine craves admiration and approval. She wants to stand out from the crowd by being the best at everything she does, whether that’s in the classroom, on stage or in life. Never happy with anything less than an A*, the word ‘failure’ is not in her vocabulary. Claudine has a phenomenal pop singing voice, but sometimes when she sings she loses herself in the music and, without realising it, exposes some of the vulnerability that she strives so hard to conceal.
Claudine is a social butterfly. She loves being Miss Popular and holds the record for the most Facebook and Bebo friends in the school. She can be manipulative and will call anyone her BFF (best friend forever) to get what she wants.
When Claudine meets Lauren (Georgina Hagen), who shares her talents, she does her best to try and make school life difficult for her through fierce competition and bitchiness. This rivalry is heightened when Lauren and Danny (Mitch Hewer) begin dating. Claudine tries her best to steal Danny from Lauren, however it’s only when Claudine drops the mask and reveals her true and more vulnerable self that Danny really starts to take notice of her…
8 LAUREN (GEORGINA HAGEN)
Originally from a small town in the New Forest, Lauren is an all round talent. Not only does she excel in her performance subjects, but she also shines academically. She has an incredibly powerful singing voice, and when she belts out a tune, the whole school stops to listen.
Lauren comes from a happy and close family, and moving away from them has an enormous impact on her. She’s never lived away from home before and misses her mum and her pet dogs Billy, Barney and Bobby enormously. She arrives full of naive enthusiasm but is immediately overawed by the uber- confident big city kids who know the latest trends and buzz words.
As she has had no formal performance training before (the Principal spotted her singing at a wedding) she struggles to keep up with the experienced students in dance class. Her raw talent also leads to jealousy from classmate Claudine (Sapphire Elia) who has trained hard all her life in order to secure a place at Britannia High.
When Lauren finds herself falling for Danny (Mitch Hewer), she can’t initially imagine he would ever return her affections. Danny in turn falls for her and the pair embark on a fun-filled relationship. Both thrive from taking the mickey out of each other, and more often than not this leads to sparks of teenage passion flying thick and fast between them. It certainly looks like they’re destined to be together. Or are they?
9 DANNY (MITCH HEWER)
Danny loves the buzz of showbiz, and is an all round talent. He can sing, dance and act to a high level, and quickly becomes well respected as one of the best students in the school.
Danny’s full of charm and charisma and is one of the lads. He’s a good-looking guy and knows it. That’s not to say he’s arrogant, but he takes pride in the way he looks and likes to think of himself as the Ronaldo of Britannia High!
Danny takes on the role of the joker in the group. He makes everyone laugh and people love hanging around him. He is not the most emotionally aware of his friends, but he has a good heart and as a boyfriend is attentive and romantic.
Originally from Bristol, moving to London is part of the excitement of Britannia High for Danny and he embraces it. He loves the scale and the energy of the city, which reflect his own character as he struggles to keep still for more than five seconds, seeing the potential for fun and excitement in everything.
Danny’s motivation for coming to Britannia High is complicated. He’s always believed he was stupid and struggled in academic subjects. Danny always knew he was charming but didn’t think that counted for anything. Then he discovered performing, and realised his ‘charm’ could translate into stage
10 presence and theatrical skill. Suddenly, he found he was good at something, and he’s never looked back since!
LOLA (RANA ROY)
Lola’s more than a little eccentric, and wears her heart on her sleeve. She has absolutely no idea how attractive she is, even when she dances with the freshest moves to shame Beyoncé! Despite also being an accomplished musician, Lola is forever late for class, but the mentors find it difficult to chastise her because she’s genuinely adorable. Lola lives for showbiz gossip and when she’s not got her head stuck in Heat magazine, she’s invariably daydreaming about dating and duetting with the likes of Justin Timberlake or Usher.
Because she’s a dreamer with her head in the clouds, Lola has no interest in academic subjects and can’t see why she has to learn who the Prime Ministers of Britain were when all she wants to do when she leaves Britannia High is dance. Like so many young people she wants fame for fame’s sake, and her main ambition is to have her own spread in OK! Magazine.
Lola is great fun and a great friend. She is not the most intelligent of the gang and can sometimes be naïve, mostly because she seems to live on a different
11 planet! However, she is confident and knows what she wants: to be a dancer and not just any dancer but a ‘Superdancer’.
Across the series, Lola will have to face up to the fact that instant fame isn’t all its cracked up to be, and she realises that if she does want to have a long and sustainable career that she’s going to have to put the effort in. Lola also learns about the perils of love, when she falls head over heels for the wrong man. Lola’s optimism and energy make her a compelling performer – if she can just reign in her compulsive urges long enough to make it through the rehearsals!
JEZ (MATTHEW JAMES THOMAS)
Jez is the most intelligent and well read out of all our gang. This is reflected in his dialogue as he continually perplexes Lola (Rana Roy) with his use of ‘big words’. Jez is hard working and tenacious. He works and works until he masters something, even if it doesn’t come easy. He also just happens to be a superb musician, being the best pianist in the school and a truly phenomenal singer.
Jez is a wry observer, who can’t resist teasing his friends with quips and endless one-liners. As well as being very funny, he also has a lot of substance to his character and is the first to jump in if he feels something’s out of order, even if he places himself in a dangerous position by doing so. He has a good
12 heart and his wise and non-judgemental attitude mean the others are much more likely to go to Jez to discuss a problem than anybody else.
When Jez arrives at Britannia High he tells the rest of the students that he comes from an unremarkable and boring background. In reality he lives in a country mansion with his billionaire father, Sir Jack Tyler (Danny Webb), who runs a successful business. Unfortunately for Jez, having a super rich dad has sometimes meant that people treat him differently. Being accepted for who he is, not what he is, is hugely important to him and being at Britannia High makes him feel like he’s finally found somewhere he belongs.
Jez’s father wants him to join the family business, but Jez doesn’t have the heart to tell his dad that he wants to be a performer and so tells him that he is attending an economics college. Being true to himself and revealing that to his father will prove a whole lot harder than he could ever have imagined.
BB (MARCQUELLE WARD)
BB - short for B-Boy - considers himself to be the Jamie Foxx of Britannia High. He is the most mature and grounded of the students. He knows what he likes and what he’s good at and has no interest in anything else. BB always sings from the heart, and is a phenomenal street dancer …but he hates ballet!
BB considers himself to be “fresh to death”, keeping himself right at the forefront of the latest trends. As well as having his ear to the ground, BB is
13 insightful and sensitive, sometimes taking more of a back seat in the group as he doesn’t need to fight for centre of attention like some of the others. Still waters certainly do run deep as far as BB’s concerned.
By pure force, ambition and talent BB has dragged himself out of the ghetto and through the door that leads to all his dreams of success. He does not see any problem in segueing seamlessly between the hard world of the bleak council estate where he lives and the intense and exciting world of Britannia High.
There is an instant suspicion between BB and Jez (Matthew James Thomas) who appear to be opposites in their tastes and backgrounds. However, a joint love of radio bonds them when they are given a show to present on the school radio station. They soon realise that they are a lot more similar than they thought and become the best of friends. Together they’re a force to be reckoned with, providing much fun and merriment to life at Britannia High.
BB is very loyal and will do anything for his friends. Despite trying to keep his home life and Britannia High separate they will inevitably collide and when they do he faces some tough and devastating life changing decisions about where he belongs…
MEET THE TEACHERS …
PRINCIPAL NUGENT (MARK BENTON)
14 Mr Nugent is the antithesis of a stage school head. He is funny, earthy and extremely unconventional. He enjoys bantering with the students, treating them as equals as much as possible. Mr Nugent understands the importance of nurturing young people, and allowing them to discover their strengths and weaknesses for themselves. He therefore avoids preaching to his charges, and tries to give them the emotional space they need to discover who they really want to be. He is passionate about performance and expressionism, and has introduced modern styles of dance and music into the curriculum to co-exist with the traditional classes.
He loves the arts and wants all his students to be as passionate as he is. He hates the way the world has become celebrity obsessed and has no time for any student who has enrolled in his school just to become famous. By attending Britannia High you are committed to learning your craft - hard work and dedication will hopefully lead to a long and successful career in the arts after graduation. Only if you flaunt these rules will you see his stern side.
The students love Mr Nugent’s acting classes as he encourages the students to be creative and doesn’t stifle them with restrictive rules. They can talk to him like a friend, rather than a tutor and his students come to respect him just as much as he respects them.
DANCE MENTOR – STEFAN (ADAM GARCIA)
15 Sexy Stefan is passionate about dance. He lives and breathes his profession, as it’s been his life since he saw his first show and caught the performing bug as a young child. Born in Australia, Stefan spent most of his childhood sitting in the audience of various theatres wanting to join the performers on stage. His dream came true aged 18 when he moved to the UK to begin a career in the West End. After a successful stint he decided to share his talent and knowledge with future dancers and turned to teaching. When Stefan dances he gives 100% and expects his students to follow suit. Stefan can come across as strict with the students as his lessons are relentless. However he’s not a tyrant, and knows how difficult sustaining a career in performing arts really is and so makes them work hard so that they can achieve their goals. The energy and passion he feels for dance is truly inspiring, and his students think his classes are an absolute blast.
16 MUSIC MENTOR – ANNA (LORRAINE PILKINGTON)
Anna is beautiful and talented. She truly believes in the power of music and it becomes clear very quickly that anything less than one hundred per cent commitment from her students isn’t good enough. Anna is also very perceptive, understanding the performance, academic and emotional pressures her young charges face.
Her students know not to step out of line in her class unless they want to face the firing squad. However, her bark is worse than her bite and she will always go the extra mile to help a student in need. Anna, above all the other mentors, knows the importance of academic studies – in an industry so full of unemployment she feels duty bound to ensure that her students are fully prepared for all of life’s eventualities.
17 MEET THE LANDLADY…
MRS TROY (MICHELE AUSTIN)
Mrs Troy runs one of the houses where the Britannia High students live during their time at the school. She is a jolly and eccentric character and her house is a mass of colour. She’s an artist and is forever having a Jackson Pollock moment or Tracey Emin attack.
She understands being away from home for the first time is hard for some of the students and is always available to offer them a sympathetic ear. Like Mr Nugent, she allows the students to make their own mistakes, knowing that she will be there for them to help pick up the pieces. Across the series, Mrs Troy becomes a surrogate mother to the students, even to non-residents BB (Marcquelle Ward), Jez (Matthew James Thomas) and Ronnie (Sophie Powles) who all seem to gravitate there.
MEET THE DINNER LADY…
RONNIE (SOPHIE POWLES)
Ronnie works in the school canteen. She’s the same age as the students at Britannia High, and is always there to offer a smile and a kind word as she serves lunch. Originally from Grimsby, Ronnie was attracted to the bright lights of London and has always loved the performing arts, so getting a job at Britannia High seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Despite her bubbly personality, Ronnie feels very inferior to the rest of the students; they can sing, dance and act and she just serves chips. However she finds herself drawn to the gang, longing for them to see her as a friend, be a part of their world, and not just a dinner lady. Sometimes it seems like Ronnie tries that little bit too hard to be liked, but she’s got a good heart, and just needs to learn to have more confidence in herself. Across the series, Ronnie will go on a big journey of self discovery, and finally find the sense of direction and self-worth that she’s been seeking all her life.
18 EPISODE SYNOPSES
The following episode synopses are published for forward planning purposes only. Please do not use entirely or publish the ending.
EPISODE ONE
It’s the start of a new year at Britannia High and the students arrive with bags of energy and enthusiasm, full of anticipation about what lies ahead. Amongst the new arrivals is small town girl and performing arts school novice Lauren (Georgina Hagen). After the initial excitement of being in the big city wears off, she gradually begins to feel like a fish out of water as she struggles to fit in with the uber-confident and trendy city kids.
Lauren excels in music and drama, but she’s struggling to keep up in dance class. After her teachers warn her that she’s in danger of failing the class if she if she doesn’t up her fitness levels, Lauren embarks on a strict, unforgiving regime to catch up and fit in. However, her insecurities about her image and abilities are fuelled further by Claudine (Sapphire Elia) who’s seething with jealously after noticing Lauren has gained the attention of class hunk, Danny (Mitch Hewer) and suggests only a part in Hairspray beckons.
Lauren’s determined and focuses all her time and energy on dance lessons and working out. When the class are informed they have a dance routine to learn for a showcase that involves a lift, Lauren is paired with Danny and is frustrated as she fails to master the routine. Keen to boost her confidence Danny and Lauren meet up for extra practice and as they become closer, Danny enjoys getting to know the ‘real’ Lauren away from school. However, as the showcase looms and Lauren still struggles, she begins to wonder - is she really cut out for life at Britannia High?
The day of the student showcase finally arrives and Lauren’s panicking that she’s going to mess the dance up for everyone else and tells Danny she doesn’t want to perform the lift. Danny won’t let her quit, he believes in her and urges her to do the same. The dance begins and Lauren does the lift perfectly, but as everyone congratulates her backstage, she collapses. 19 Episode one continues…
Back stage, Lauren confesses to Principal Nugent (Mark Benton) that she’s been pushing herself too hard in order to be like the other girls. He reassures her that Britannia High is not about conforming, and she was chosen to join the school because of her incredible talent and her individuality. She should never feel any pressure to be anything else. All she ever needed to do was just believe in herself.
Lauren’s new friends rally round her, feeling guilty for not realising the pressure she was putting herself under. She thanks Danny for his support and as they seal their new relationship with a kiss, Lauren decides she might just belong at Britannia High after all.
20 EPISODE TWO
The school is buzzing with talk of the elections for the new first year student rep, and when Principal Nugent (Mark Benton) announces Danny (Mitch Hewer), Lauren (Georgina Hagen) and Claudine (Sapphire Elia) have been short-listed, Danny’s annoyed with BB (Marcquelle Ward) and Jez (Matthew James Thomas) for secretly nominating him. However, when it’s revealed that the first job for the winner will be to chair a question and answer session with Girls Aloud, Danny decides being student rep might not be so bad. Meanwhile, music teacher, Anna (Lorraine Pilkington), is concerned that Danny is struggling with his written work and could do without the distraction. She voices her concern but Danny ignores her advice and is delighted when he wins the election.
As Danny gets stuck into his new role, he discovers Mr Nugent forgot to mention the daily blog and other duties the student rep has to perform. On top of all this extra work, a perturbed Danny is reprimanded by Anna who has failed his latest essay. Danny takes his frustrations out on Lauren, who helped with his essay, but she realises he just handed in the notes she wrote down for him. Danny storms off, throwing all the reading material Mr Nugent gave him in the bin as he leaves.
Later, Danny tries to apologise to Lauren, who won’t let him off so easily and refuses to give him any more help with his extra work. Having been rejected by Lauren, he turns to Claudine instead who is more than happy to give him a hand…
21 Just as the question and answer session with Girls Aloud is about to begin, Danny is shocked when Mr Nugent hands him a list of questions that he needs to ask them. Danny didn’t think he’d have to read anything and is flustered when Mr Nugent ushers him onto the stage. He begins the interview but both Girls Aloud and the audience are irritated when he doesn’t ask any serious questions. Danny completely freezes on stage, in front of the whole school, before bolting out of the door.
After observing Danny’s behaviour, Anna realises what’s troubling him. She finds him and reveals that she knows he can’t read. Danny’s worried that if his secret gets out he’ll have to leave Britannia High, but Anna assures him that won’t happen, she thinks he has dyslexia and promises to help him. However Danny can’t cope with this revelation and runs off.
Episode two continues…
Feeling scared and vulnerable, Danny heads into the studio and dances out all his frustrations. Realising that he has to face his fears in order to remain at Britannia High, Danny finds the courage to finally stop running away from himself. Meanwhile, Lauren has heard the news and comes to find Danny in the studio. As they embrace, he knows that with the help and support of his teachers and friends everything is going to be okay.
22 EPISODE THREE
It’s Jez’s (Matthew James Thomas) birthday and the gang are celebrating at a roller disco. He’s having a great time until he bumps into some old friends and suddenly becomes uneasy. He clearly doesn’t want his two sets of friends to meet and as he pretends he’s alone a farce ensues as he tries to keep both groups apart. Jez thinks he might just have got away until disaster strikes and he’s eventually caught out.
Jez is forced to reveal the truth to his friends from Britannia High; he’s been hiding something from them all - he’s really a secret millionaire. He tries to explain that he hasn’t been honest because he thought they would have treated him differently if they’d known. He would have been the rich kid, rather than their mate. As the rest of the gang make jokes about yachts and financing musicals, it’s clear that BB (Marcquelle Ward) is furious with Jez and feels betrayed – they’re supposed to be friends. Jez tries to apologise and explains that he never meant to lie to him, but BB doesn’t want to hear it.
Feeling isolated from the group, Jez goes home for the weekend, but his friends are worried that there’s something else he’s keeping from them and decide to visit him in his mansion. BB is reluctant but is persuaded by the thought of spending a night in luxury. When they arrive at his house they discover that Jez has also been lying to his father, who thinks Jez is attending a business school, he wouldn’t approve of his career and wants him to join the family business. Understanding Jez’s dilemma, the gang agree to keep quiet and pretend to be business students while they’re around Jez’s dad. However, BB is adamants that he won’t lie for him and thinks he’s making a mistake.
The gang are convincing at first, but as Jez’s dad’s questions continue, the pretence gets harder. When Jez overhears BB and his dad talking, he’s convinced BB has told his dad the truth. Jez bounds angrily over and inadvertently reveals the truth! As expected, Jez’s father orders him to leave Britannia High and re-apply for Business College.
23 Episode three continues…
The gang return to Britannia High and Jez is distraught. His friends are sure that if his dad saw how talented he is, he’d change his mind. However, when his father arrives at the school he’s unimpressed and orders him to come home with him, insisting that if he stays on at Britannia High he’s no longer part of the family.
Jez faces the most difficult decision of his life - he loves his dad but he knows performing is the only thing he wants to do. Will he defy his father and follow his dream?
24 EPISODE FOUR
Lola (Rana Roy) is enjoying a night out at a club, it’s a small taste of glamour compared to the hard work they’ve been enduring at Britannia High. On the way out, she accidentally bumps into Matt Willis and, in front of the waiting paparazzi, she kisses him to say thank you when he helps her pick up her bag. The next day she opens the newspaper and is stunned to find herself pictured with Matt being described as his new mystery lady!
Lola’s in her element as she arrives at school and discovers everyone is talking about the article. She loves the attention, but when a journalist (Gemma Bissix) approaches her about selling her story, she declines despite the promise of fame and fortune. However after yet after another gruelling dance class, Lola reconsiders the offer and thinks taking the short cut to fame by speaking may not be such a bad idea after all.
The journalist lures Lola into selling her story with promises of dance auditions and invites to celebrity parties. After meeting a top choreographer who is auditioning for a new Boyzone video, it’s not long before she begins to believe her own hype and starts acting like a diva, much to the dismay of her friends and teachers at Britannia High. When Principal Nugent (Mark Benton) calls Lola into his office to confront her about her attitude, she decides she doesn’t need Britannia High anymore and decides to turn her back on the school and her friends.
Lola soon discovers that there’s no such thing as a free pass to stardom. She goes to the music video audition but the role is cast before she is even seen. With no one else to turn to she calls the journalist, who is not interested in helping unless Lola has another story for her. Her optimism returns briefly when she joins a modelling agency but when the only job she gets is dressing up as a tomato for a ketchup advert she’s mortified. As her dream of success diminishes, Lola begins to wonder whether she has made a mistake.
Feeling like she has no other option, Lola takes the journalist up on her offer and goes to a club to ‘find’ a new story. Seeing all the other wannabes inside, she realises this is not what she wants to be known for. She bumps into an 25 angry Matt Willis again on her way out and, after facing his wrath, leaves the club devastated. Swallowing her pride, she returns to Britannia High to apologise for her actions, but will Principal Nugent give her another chance? And will her friends forgive her?
EPISODE FIVE
BB (Marcquelle Ward) is in ballet class when he notices his brother, Julius (Wesley Theobald), laughing at him outside the dance studio. He’s surprised to see his brother at the school - Julius has never been interested in this side of BB’s life. The gang are delighted to finally meet Julius and are impressed and intrigued by him, so much so that they invite him to watch BB performing that evening.
BB’s relieved that the performance is a huge success and, on a high, he leaves with his brother and is happy to be hanging out with his big brother and his mates – he’s missed them since he’s been at Britannia High.
Later that night, Julius and his mates park their car outside a corner shop, and he tells BB that if he wants to hang out with them, he needs to prove he’s not gone soft since joining Britannia High. He hands him a gun, and orders him to rob the store. BB protests but Julius doesn’t give him a choice. As a terrified BB approaches the store, the shop owner comes outside and starts talking to him. BB freezes, unable to go through with it, and runs back to the car but Julius speeds off, leaving BB stranded.
BB is shocked that Julius and his mates have started messing around with guns. BB always knew his brother was a bit of a rogue and one of the lads, but is saddened by how much they are growing apart. BB disowns Julius and storms out of the flat they share, bedding down for the night back at school.
The next day, BB is called into Principal Nugent’s (Mark Benton) office, where he is told that his brother has been shot and is in hospital. BB races to the hospital and arrives just as Julius passes away. BB is distraught and blames himself for his brother’s death; Julius wouldn’t have died if he had been there to protect him. Angry and grief-stricken, he comes to a decision; he wasn’t 26 there for Julius when he was alive but he can be now. He’ll avenge his death by killing his brother’s murderer.
Jez (Matthew James Thomas) is worried about his friend, and turns up at BB’s flat to find him even more determined for vengeance. Jez begs BB to reconsider, knowing he too will be throwing his life away if he goes through with it. Julius’ mates pressure BB to take revenge, and BB is in turmoil. Will he realise that he doesn’t need to resort to violence and can make the braver decision to say at Britannia High and avenge his brother’s death by forging a better life for himself?
EPISODE SIX
Danny (Mitch Hewer) and Lauren’s (Georgina Hagen) three-month anniversary is coming up and Claudine (Sapphire Elia) is not happy. She was hoping Danny would be bored of Lauren by now but it seems they’re just as loved up as ever. She decides there is only one thing to do - if she wants Danny it’s time to start fighting.
Claudine knows the only way to get Danny is to create a rift between him and Lauren. Firstly, she intercepts the flowers Danny bought Lauren for their anniversary causing Lauren to think he’s forgotten. Danny realises what’s happened and confronts Claudine - he knows she fancies him and he wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to ruin their anniversary. She assures Danny that although she may have had a crush on him in the past, she has no interest in him anymore. Once she’s convinced Danny is appeased, she moves on to stage two: persuade Lauren that Danny is having an affair.
Claudine begins to drop subtle hints to Lauren that Danny is seeing someone else. Lauren doesn’t take the bait until Danny receives an anonymous gift. Danny revels in the fact he may have a secret admirer and when Claudine jokes that Lauren should watch her back, a seed of doubt is planted in Lauren’s mind. So when Lauren picks up Danny’s jacket and it smells of perfume, she confronts him. Angry that Lauren doesn’t trust him, Danny starts a row as Claudine sits back and enjoys the show.
Meanwhile, Lola (Rana Roy) is sure she’s seen a ghost in the school, and the gang organise a night of ghost hunting in Britannia High. To Claudine’s delight, Lauren and Danny aren’t talking when they arrive. While the others are ghost hunting, Danny admits to Claudine that he’s sick of Lauren’s jealousy and has dumped her. Seeing her plan has worked, Claudine consoles Danny. They have a tender hug and Claudine is about to kiss Danny when he pulls back and shouts “gotcha”. Claudine is devastated as Danny confesses he and Lauren worked out that it was Claudine messing with them all along.
27 Lauren arrives and as they both laugh at her and tell her she has no chance with him, a humiliated Claudine runs off in tears.
Seeing Claudine’s reaction, Danny and Lauren start to feel really guilty. They never realised how much Claudine cared for Danny, they assumed she was just trying to break them up for the fun of it. Danny decides to go and speak to Claudine to apologise. He finds her in the music room, mortified and upset. Despite her games, she has genuine feelings for Danny. Opening up, she tells him that she feels completely worthless, just like her mother told her she was.
Gradually, Claudine reveals a painful, lonely and difficult childhood. The only thing that got her through was music, and that’s why she’s at Britannia High; to be the person she dreamed of being when she sought comfort in her favourite songs. For the first time Danny has seen the real Claudine. Feeling deep affection, he wipes away her tears and kisses her, just as Lauren appears at the door...
EPISODE SEVEN
Lola (Rana Roy) is in love! The only problem is the object of her desire is dance mentor Stefan (Adam Garcia). Lola secretly fantasises about hot dates and passionate embraces with him. Her only confidante is her diary, where her teenage imagination knows no limits. Stefan, for his part, is completely innocent but has taken a shine to Lola and offers to give her some additional one to one dance coaching. Loved-up Lola can’t believe her luck!
As they work together, Lola and Stefan connect. Lola’s passion for dance reminds Stefan of himself at her age. When Stefan suggests they continue to chat about dance over a coffee, Lola is beside herself. Her fantasy is coming true – Stefan fancies her too!
Jez and BB catch Lola writing another diary entry. They, of course, can’t resist stealing her diary when she’s not looking. At first amused by the ramblings of loony Lola, their jaws hit the floor when they read about her relationship with Stefan. The boys confide in the others about Lola’s diary. Lauren defends Lola – they had no right to invade her privacy. Most are ready to dismiss the contents as Lola’s vivid imagination, but BB wonders if it actually might be true.
The gang watch Lola and Stefan closely. They follow them to the café where Lola and Stefan go for coffee. They see them chatting intimately, and when Stefan gives Lola a hug they put two and two together and make five. 28 Although they think it’s kind of cool to be dating a teacher, especially a hotty like Stefan, the friends decide to speak to Lola about it. Lola daren’t admit to her friends that it’s all in her head, so instead elaborates on what they’ve seen and read. A more mature BB is concerned, and decides to have it out with Stefan. When he hears what he’s being accused of, Stefan angrily confronts Lola, who breaks down and admits the truth.
Having calmed down, Stefan talks things through with a mortified Lola. He tells her not to feel foolish and, treating her with sensitivity, admits he’s flattered she thinks so highly of him. Lola wishes they could be together, and asks him if he weren’t her teacher whether he might fancy her a little bit. Stefan’s slightly flustered by the question, but Lola’s insistent and Stefan ends up admitting her does like her, but could never cross that line. Lola accepts what he’s saying and the two agree to put the incident behind them. Buoyed up by Stefan, Lola finds the courage to admit to her friends that she made the whole thing up. BB, for one, is hugely relieved.
Lola tries her best, but she can’t get Stefan out of her head. What’s worse is the fact that it’s now clear Stefan feels the same. Eventually, despite their best intentions, the two end up kissing briefly. Lola is on cloud nine, having finally won the man of her dreams. She’s soon devastated however when Stefan tells her that he is resigning his job. He’s appalled with himself for crossing a line, and knows he has to leave before things go any further. Lola is devastated to lose her first love so soon, but Stefan advises her that it’s for the best. Before he leaves, he asks Lola for one last dance - they may not be able to be together, but nobody can stop them dancing together.
EPISODE EIGHT
The end of term show is coming up and everyone is in the throes of rehearsals. Canteen girl Ronnie (Sophie Powles) can see the hard work all the students are putting in and is desperate to join in. For months now, she has tried to be one of the gang, with varying success. Ronnie yearns to be one of the cool kids, but sometimes feels like she’s invisible.
After her help gets knocked back, Ronnie confides in Jez (Matthew James Thomas) - she auditioned for Britannia High but didn’t get in, so instead she took a job in the school canteen in the vain hope she would be noticed and offered a place. As she explains how she’s desperate to reapply next year, Jez is touched by her honesty and vows to help her get in and offers to assist with her audition piece.
29 When Jez sees Ronnie perform, however, he can see why she didn’t get in the school; she’s awful. Unable to break her heart by telling her the truth, he lies that she’s doing well. Ronnie is delighted and, full of confidence, decides to audition for the end of year show. Jez tries to dissuade her but stops short of telling her the truth and has to watch as Ronnie humiliates herself in front of the whole school at her audition.
Ronnie realises that Jez hasn’t been honest with her and angrily demands to know what he really thinks. Cornered, Jez is forced to reveal that she has no performance talent causing Ronnie to run off distraught. Jez feels terrible when he discovers Ronnie has decided to leave the school, he tries to stop her and follows her to the train station but is too late and arrives as the train is leaving. Gutted, he turns to head home, not seeing Ronnie sitting on the opposite platform in tears.
Later, Jez is sat at home feeling terrible, when there is a knock on the door. He’s surprised to see Ronnie standing there looking extremely positive! She’s decided not to go home, she may not be a performer but she’s going to make it in the business one way or another. Jez is delighted and as they hug he promises to be there for her, whatever she decides to do
The above episode synopses are published for forward planning purposes only. Please do not use entirely or publish the ending.
As Britannia High is still in production in Manchester episodic pictures from episodes six, seven and eight are not currently available. Please contact ITV’s Picture Publicity Manager Dawn Comber for more information.
CAST Q&A
SAPPHIRE ELIA plays Claudine
Q: What is your favourite smell? A: Onion and Garlic! When it’s being cooked, not on the breath!
30 Q: Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? A: Mariah Carey, she’s my idol, and Johnny Depp.
Q: Who would you swap places with for 24 hours? A: The Queen. I want to know what she really does everyday! I know she works her socks off, but I’m intrigued to see what it is she actually does. I’d also like to do the wave!
Q: Where is your favourite place for a holiday? A: I really want to go to Rome. I love culture, I love history, I love the sun and I love good food! So Rome is the perfect place for me.
Q: What music do you listen to? A: Kind of acoustic soul stuff, R&B, anything Mariah Carey does, I do like a little bit of indie occasionally. I’m quite open minded to music.
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment? A: I was at the top of an escalator once and my purse came open. Everything fell out and starting falling down the escalator! All my money was bouncing off people’s heads, and at the bottom, someone was picking up all my spare change! I was really embarrassed.
Q: How do you relax? A: Music. Always music.
Q: What’s your biggest phobia? A: Spiders. I used to suffer from arachnophobia really badly, but my Mum helped me through it.
Q: Who is your hero? A: Mariah Carey.
Q: What’s the last text you received, and who was it from? A: My friend Stuart. He said that he was thinking about me and was wondering how I was.
Q: What’s the worst injury you ever had? A: I cracked my chin open when I was 6 years old. I was dancing around a swimming pool and having a competition with my cousin to see who could jump closest to the side, and I won!
GEORGINA HAGEN plays Lauren
31 Q: What’s your earliest memory? A: Probably when I was about 1½ years old. I remember my mum taking me to a park and I got chased by a goose! Ever since I’ve had a huge phobia of geese!
Q: If you could go back in time, where would you go? A: To the 50’s in America.
Q: Who’s the most fanciable man on TV? A: It has got to be Orlando Bloom. I think I would faint if I met him!
Q: What’s your biggest fashion disaster? A: Jungle trousers, with the Spice Girls t-shirt and buffalos! Cringe*
Q: What is the strangest snack that you enjoy? A: Oatcakes with cream cheese and sweet cheese sauce.
Q: How do you relax? A: Chill out watching Sex and the City.
Q: What’s your biggest phobia? A: Geese, spiders, wasps. Anything with more legs than I have that’s not fluffy! Oh, and heights!
Q: What’s the worst injury you ever had? A: I’ve had quite a few! I’ve torn my hamstring a few times and broken my wrist. I’ve gone eyebrow first into the hinge of a door, and I’ve also cracked the back of my head open. They’re all on a par really!
Q: Who is the last person who wrote on your facebook wall? A: Rana. I love her!
Q: What’s your favourite ever film? A: Dirty Dancing.
Q: If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? A: To find the man of my dreams, have an amazing life together and start a family.
32 MITCH HEWER plays Danny
Q: What is the worst job you’ve ever done? A: Maybe a paper round when I was really young!
Q: What can’t you live without? A: My family. I couldn’t live without my Mum and Dad. They do a lot for me.
Q: What’s the saddest CD in your collection? A: I don’t think it’s sad, but I love Abba, they’re legend! I also love the Spice Girls!
Q: Who would you most and least like to be stuck in a lift with? A: I’d love to get stuck in a lift with Jessica Alba, Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman and Vanessa Hudgens – all together! I think I’d least like to be stuck in a lift with someone who was argumentative.
Q: When was the last time you got really angry? A: I’m quite a laid back person so I don’t really get worked up or angry.
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment? A: I have fallen over a lot, but I find it really funny!
Q: What’s the last text your received, and who was it from? A: It was from a girl saying ‘I’m very well how are you?’ I won’t mention her name, she’s very nice!
Q: What’s the worst injury you ever had? A: I’ve broken my thumb, I’ve broken my collar bone, I’ve broken my knuckle. When I was little, I put a hammer in my head. I was running up the garden going ‘Mum, mum! Look what I’ve done!’ I chipped my spine at the beginning of this series. I was doing the splits and my muscle pulled away from my spine and chipped it!
Q: What’s your favourite film? A: The Notebook is a really good film. I also really like Meet Joe Black.
33 RANA ROY plays Lola
Q: Who would play you in the film of your life? A: I have absolutely no clue! Someone with curly hair? I’d like Beyoncé to play me, but I think I’d rather play her!
Q: What is the most important lesson life has taught you? A: I go by, whatever is supposed to happen will happen. I believe in fate, I believe in karma as well. I just think that if you’re a good person, good things will happen to you.
Q: Do you plan to grow old gracefully? A: I want to grow old gracefully to a certain extent, but if there’s something that really bothers with me, I’d get plastic surgery. My Uncle’s a Cosmetic Surgeon, so all of that isn’t really very shocking to me.
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment? A: Even when I do things embarrassing, I just laugh at myself, so I don’t really get embarrassed!
Q: What’s your biggest phobia? A: Insects! I hate insects!
Q: What’s your favourite ever film? A: Closer. I’d watch it about ten million times, I love it!
Q: What’s your hidden talent? A: I used to do gymnastics, so my back’s really flexible!
Q: Who’s your hero? A: I admire a lot of people, but my dance teacher in Dubai made a massive difference to my life. She just taught me a lot and made me realise what I want to do with my life.
Q: Did you ever get suspended from school? A: Never! I was a good girl!
Q: What are your vices? A: I love cakes and chocolate!
Q: How do you like to relax? A: On a beach in a different country! Whilst filming I just chill out in my room, sleep, or watch TV.
34 MATTHEW JAMES THOMAS plays Jez
Q: What is your most treasured possession? A: My piano. I love to sit down when I’m happy or sad and just be alone with my music and write a song.
Q: What is your favourite word? A: It’s probably ‘awesome’! I know that’s really cheesy, but I keep saying it around set and I don’t know why.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? A: Let things come to you.
Q: If you were invisible for a day, what’s the first thing you’d do? A: I would probably go into the White House and see what actually happens!
Q: What is the first thing you think about when you wake up? A: At the moment my lines and then probably second my family.
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment? A: I was outside filming by a river somewhere and it was raining, and everyone there was desperate to finish, you could see it on their faces, and I just kept forgetting my lines! I just couldn’t do it, I felt so embarrassed.
Q: What is your biggest phobia? A: Wasps. I’m absolutely terrified of wasps.
Q: Who is your hero? A: Robin Williams. He’s such an amazing actor. I’ve got so many heroes, but he’s the one that springs to mind.
Q: What was the last text your received, and who was it from? A: It was from my sister, and she said she used my internet dongle and she’d left me £10 to top it up.
Q: What is the worst injury you ever had? A: When I broke my thumb. I was skiing about 5 or 6 years ago and I remember how much pain I was in. We were in the middle of a mountain and my right ski snapped and I went tumbling forward and broke my thumb. I had to be rushed to hospital!
Q: What is your worst vice?
35 A: I bite my fingernails! I always used to leave things to last minute, but I’m better now!
MARCQUELLE WARD plays BB
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment? A: There was a time last year in rehearsals and I was wearing a pair of tracksuit bottoms that button up and we were doing a dance routine and my trousers popped open! I just tried to carry on, but they ended up stopping the music to ask me if I was alright!
Q: What makes you lose your temper? A: I’m usually very good at keeping my temper and I tend to store my anger, but I was a very mad and energetic child.
Q: If you could edit the past, what would you change? A: Nothing. I think that everything happens for a reason and I wouldn’t be the person I am today if things in my life hadn’t happened they way they did.
Q: What was the last film you saw? A: The last film I saw was Mamma Mia. It was good but, I sort of fell asleep! It wasn’t because of the film; the film was good; I was just really tired!
Q: What is your current mobile ring tone? A: You Should Let Me Love You by Mario.
Q: Who is your hero? A: My mum. She’s been through so much and given up a lot for me and my sister. She’s so positive and strong. She’s my heroine and she shows me that anything’s possible.
Q: What is the last text your received, and who was it from? A: ‘Night, night.’ and it was from a friend.
Q: What is the worst injury you ever had? A: I broke my thumb during a charity basketball game once, but the worst injury I’ve had was probably when I moved my rib out of place. I was in so much pain!
Q: Who is the last person who wrote on your facebook wall? A: Probably my friend Devon. He was talking about the Jay-Z concert that I missed. You know, rubbing it in!
36 Q: What is your worst vice? A: I love parties, so I’m a bit of a party animal.
Q: If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? A: For everyone in the world to be happy.
Get a Britannia High on Web, Mobile and Red Button
Britannia High fans are in for a treat, with tones of extra content on ITV.com, ITV Mobile, ITV interactive and social networking site Bebo.
They’ll be able to fully immerse themselves in the worlds of the six characters as they pursue their dreams of success.
As well as being the only place to watch the first episode a week before it goes out, itv.com/britanniahigh and britanniahigh.com will be the virtual home of the school, a place where fans can become involved with the ups and downs of life as a student, with blogs, exclusive online episodes, photographs, e- newsletters and an online radio station broadcasting bi-weekly podcasts presented by the two school DJs and featuring music by top Universal Artists. A visit to the website will give access to singing and acting classes as well as dance tutorials taught by the characters ahead of each episode. It will also be a place to sample the latest music written by Gary Barlow and the song writing team, sung by the cast.
Fans will also get all the latest news of
Social network Bebo will be the home of even more exclusive content and the place to delve deeper into the worlds of the characters. The site will buzz with post show discussion and offer polls, competitions and links to extended promotions.
37 At the touch of the Red Button - available through Sky Digital - viewers will be able to read character profiles, learn about the show and check out photo galleries.
Also on the Red Button, dance tutorials will allow viewers to learn a new dance each week and enjoy extra preview and catch up video content.
Fans can go to itv.com/britanniahigh and britanniahigh.com two weeks before the start of the series or hit the Red Button following the broadcast of episodes 1 and 2 on ITV1 to see two specially filmed 60 minute documentaries about how the show is put together.
There they will see how the young actors and actresses were selected for the series and cameras go behind the scenes to meet the writers and show the recording studios where Gary Barlow teams up with some of the best song writers to compose the set-piece musical numbers. Viewers will also see choreographer Arlene Phillips put the young cast through their paces.
Fans can also visit the official Britannia High mobile site for free highlight clips of all the best bits from the series.
The site will have all the latest news and gossip and cast profiles and interviews plus a whole host of mobile downloads including exclusive show wallpapers and tones.
All that’s needed to access the Britannia High mobile site is a wap/mobile internet enabled phone.
Fans can text BRITANNIA to 83339* for their Britannia High fix on the move.
*Cost is two standard rate messages. An internet/WAP enabled handset is needed. Mobile network operator may charge premium rate costs for using mobile internet/WAP services. Visit itv.com/mobile for more information and itv.com/terms for T&Cs.
For enquiries about the multi platform elements of the production, please contact Ben Ayers. [email protected] / 0207 156 7218 / 07841 724809.
38 The first Britannia High DVD is available to own from ITV DVD on 17th November 2008.
Britannia High is ITV's hot new drama featuring a group of super-talented young performers learning to make their mark on the world.
As well as the first 4 fabulous episodes of the TV drama, the DVD contains the 2x1 hour behind the scene documentaries that tell the unique story of the making of Britannia High.
Also featured in the documentaries is Gary Barlow and a team of top songwriters (including Guy Chambers and Eliot Kennedy) as they created pop musical masterpieces for the show and recorded them with the cast.
Gary Barlow said: “I think we have fallen on something pretty special. Britannia High has been real fun for me; I used to wake up in the morning
39 dreaming about projects like this. When I first heard about Britannia High my plan was to get all these A-list writers that I know in the studio together. Everyone I approached was like, brilliant! See you there!”
Mark Owen said: "Being here with everyone and writing these songs has been a really creative energy. I am just glad to be part of Britannia High.”
Each of the four television drama episodes focuses on the main characters Claudine (Sapphire Elia), Lauren (Georgina Hagen), Danny (Mitch Hewer), Lola (Rana Roy), Jez (Matthew James Thomas) and BB (Marcquelle Ward) in a journey of discovery as they learn about the performing arts, life and relationships.
The second DVD will feature the final four episodes with the all important showcase finale and is due for release in January 2009.
Note to editors: for all Britannia High features please credit the DVD as follows "Britannia High DVD is released on November 17th 2008 priced at £19.99."
DVD SPECIFICS Name: Britannia High Release Date: 17th November 2008 Released by: ITV DVD Price: £19.99 Discs: 2 Extras: Behind the scenes documentaries
For DVD press enquiries please contact: Laura Graham [email protected] / 0161 827 2423
PRODUCTION CREDITS
SERIES CREATORS ARLENE PHILLIPS and DAVID IAN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS KIERAN ROBERTS MARK WELLS ANITA LAND ARLENE PHILLIPS DAVID IAN
SERIES PRODUCER AND LEAD DIRECTOR BRIAN GRANT
PRODUCER GARETH PHILIPS
DIRECTORS DECLAN O’DWYER
40 MINKIE SPIRO
LINE PRODUCER HOWARD ELLA
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY PETER SINCLAIR
PRODUCTION DESIGNER BRYCE WALMSLEY
HEAD OF MUSIC CHRIS NEIL
CASTING DIRECTOR JANIE FRAZER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF CHOREOGRAPHY ARLENE PHILLIPS
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC GARY BARLOW
SONGWRITERS JAMES BOURNE CHRIS BRAIDE GUY CHAMBERS ANDY HILL WAYNE HECTOR ELIOT KENNEDY STEVE LIPSON STEVE MAC CHRIS NEIL MARK OWEN KAREN POOLE MATT PRIME STEVE ROBSON MARTIN SUTTON PHIL THORNALLEY EG WHITE NINA WOODFORD INA WROLDSEN
SCRIPT WRITERS JONATHAN HARVEY KIRSTIE FALKOUS JULIE JONES JOHN REGIER DAMON ROCHEFORT
PHOTOGRAPHERS RAY BURMISTON ROB EVANS RACHEL JOSEPH MATT SQUIRE
41