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 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 / Eliot Kennedy / Ina Wroldsen penned theme tune “Start Of Something” on September 29th. 2 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, 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. 3 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. 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. 4 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.