Phoenix Rise (TV series)
Phoenix Rise is British television series made by BBC Studios and Sinking Ship Entertainment that follows the stories of six students who form an unbreakable bond as they navigate the trials and tribulations of school life in the Midlands. The series was launched on BBC iPlayer on 21 March 2023, and had its terrestrial premiere on BBC Three on 24 March 2023.[1]
| Phoenix Rise | |
|---|---|
| Genre | School drama |
| Created by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 40 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Joanna Hanley |
| Cinematography | Claudio Cadman |
| Editor | Jonathan Lucas |
| Running time | 30 mins. |
| Production company | |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Three |
| Release | 21 March 2023 – present |
Series 2 premiered on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three on 25 September 2023.[2]
Series 3 will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three on 24 May 2024.[3]
Synopsis edit
A diverse group of teenagers who have been excluded from a West Midlands school begin their first steps back into education.[4]
Cast edit
- Lauren Corah as Summer Bailey
- Alex Draper as Billy Hopkins
- Jayden Hanley as Darcy Trent
- Krish Bassi as Khaled
- Tara Webb as Rani
- Imogen Baker as Leila
- Orla McDonagh as Rhianna Hopkins
- Tyler Fayose as Jamie Stewart
- Joshua Cullinane as Nathan Keyes
- Emmanuella Martins as Bee
- Jessal Kullar-Bell as Cassidy
- Jack Connor as Sam
- Zita Sattar as Miss Abel
- Paul Nicholls as Carl Hopkins
- Lauren Crace as Ms Benson
- Yasmin Steadman as Becky
- Fintan Buckard as Ethan
- Karen Johal as Noreen Khan
- Anil Desai as Reaz Khan
Production edit
The series was produced by BBC Kids & Family Productions.[5] Perrie Balthazar and Matt Evans, creators, lead writers and executive producers on the series are both from the Midlands, where the series is set. They told the BBC they wanted to “focus on kids who had fallen through the cracks in the system, who were given one last chance to make a success of their time at school" and that they wanted a series that “champions the underdog, shining a light on kids who don't often get a chance in the spotlight on British TV."[6] They met writing on EastEnders and discussed working on a new project together when both were writing on the Channel 4 series Ackley Bridge.[7]
In April 2023, the series was renewed for series three and four by CBBC.[8][9]
Casting edit
Paul Nicholls was cast as Carl, Billy's father, in June 2022 with Orla McDonagh playing Billy's sister Rihanna.[10] Derby-based actress Yasmin Steadman landed the role of pupil federal officer Becky Phillips.[11] Tyler Fayose appears as school headteacher Jamie Stewart. Actor Karen Johal joined the cast in June 2022 portraying Khaled's Mum Noreen Khan.[12] The pupils are played by up-and-coming actors from across the West Midlands with show co-creator Matt Evans saying they wanted to find 'local talent and authentic voices' through an extensive casting process.[13] In September 2023, the BBC announced that Fleur East would join the cast as music teacher Miss Meesha for series three and four.[14]
Filming edit
Filming began in June 2022 in Coventry at the former secondary school Woodlands Academy.[15] Locations were all found and managed by Nigel P Harris. Filming also took place in Coventry at the Steakout restaurant on Corporation Street,[16] and Players Entertainment on Silver Street.[17]
Music edit
The series featured original music from unsigned Coventry bands.[18] The soundtrack, featuring 17 original tracks by West Midlands artists, was released by Demon Music Group on September 29, 2023.[19]
Episodes edit
Series 1 (2023) edit
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Second Chance" | Claire Tailyour | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 21 March 2023 |
| 2 | 2 | "The Boiler Room Six" | Claire Tailyour | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 21 March 2023 |
| 3 | 3 | "King of Cov" | Claire Tailyour | Steph Lacey | 21 March 2023 |
| 4 | 4 | "Catch Feels" | Claire Tailyour | Ishy Din | 21 March 2023 |
| 5 | 5 | "Detention" | Claire Tailyour | Wendy Granditer | 21 March 2023 |
| 6 | 6 | "Deadbeats and Dropouts" | Claire Tailyour | Wally Jiagoo | 21 March 2023 |
| 7 | 7 | "All for One" | Claire Tailyour | Jeffrey Aidoo | 21 March 2023 |
| 8 | 8 | "Hit and Run" | Karl Neilson | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 21 March 2023 |
| 9 | 9 | "A Star is Born" | Karl Neilson | Shazia Rashid | 21 March 2023 |
| 10 | 10 | "We Are Infinite" | Karl Neilson | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 21 March 2023 |
Series 2 (2023) edit
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "New Rules" | Karl Neilson | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 25 September 2023 |
| 2 | 2 | "Double Date" | Karl Neilson | Wendy Granditer | 25 September 2023 |
| 3 | 3 | "Bad Influence" | Karl Neilson | Tiwa Lade | 25 September 2023 |
| 4 | 4 | "Dirty Tricks" | Karl Neilson | Ishy Din | 25 September 2023 |
| 5 | 5 | "Into The Wild" | Claire Tailyour | Mark Burt | 25 September 2023 |
| 6 | 6 | "Breaking Badly" | Claire Tailyour | Jeffrey Aidoo | 25 September 2023 |
| 7 | 7 | "Fire Fifteen" | Claire Tailyour | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 25 September 2023 |
| 8 | 8 | "Exam Hell" | Claire Tailyour | Steph Lacey | 25 September 2023 |
| 9 | 9 | "Catfish" | Claire Tailyour | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 25 September 2023 |
| 10 | 10 | "The Reckoning" | Claire Tailyour | Perrie Balthazar & Matt Evans | 25 September 2023 |
Reception edit
Phil Harrison in The Guardian described the show as "a big-hearted coming-of-age drama", adding that the characters "don’t have any supernatural entities to fight; instead, they’re battling with more profound but universal problems such as absent parents, bullying and anger management" and that they were "easy to root for".[20] Rebecca Nicholson's review in The Guardian praised the series for having a “refreshing, soapy confidence”, whilst the choice to “focus on outsiders who have been written off, but who might just be about to get their second chance, gives it a winning underdog mentality” and that the series seemed “all heart, all sincerity” with a “nobody left behind” ethos which was “sweetly affecting”.[21] Barbara Ellen in The Observer concluded that the show "neatly captures the theatre of cruelty that is the school corridor" [22] whilst Orla Thomas in the Radio Times highlighted "the touching relationship between Billy (Alex Draper) and his younger sister Rihanna (Orla McDonagh)" before adding that "the snappy dialogue [that] really brings this to life".[23]
Broadcast edit
The series premiered in Australia on ABC on 17 November 2023.[24] In Finland, the series premiered on Yle on 23 November 2023.[25]
Accolades edit
The series won the Royal Television Society Midlands award for Best Scripted Series in November 2023. It was also nominated for Best Writer and Breakthrough Performance for Alex Draper.[26] It was nominated for Best Live Action Kids Drama at TBI's Content Innovation Awards and won the Mipcom Diversify award in October 2023 for Representation of Diversity in Kids Programming.[27]
References edit
- ^ "Phoenix Rise - Meet the characters and creators of the bold new school drama". BBC Media Centre (Press release). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix Rise". BBC. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix Rise". BBC. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Launch for new BBC school drama set in Coventry". BBC News. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Bałaga, Marta (17 October 2022). "'This is a Show about Second Chances,' Creators of 'Phoenix Rise' Say at MipJunior". Variety. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix Rise - Meet the characters and creators of the bold new school drama". bbc.com. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Bell, Matthew (9 March 2023). "Phoenix Rise: Kids' drama rises from the ashes". rts.org. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Pearce, Vanessa (15 April 2023). "Phoenix Rise: Coventry teens' authentic voices' help success of BBC drama". BBC News. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Hit Coventry-based TV show Phoenix Rise gets two more series". Coventry Telegraph. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Wren, Shaun (13 June 2022). "Ex-EastEnders star Paul Nicholls cast in new BBC drama". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Connelly, Joseph (14 March 2023). "Adorable way BBC Phoenix Rise star Yasmin Steadman tried to start her acting career". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Karen Johal | Actor". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Masuan, Saskia (16 March 2023). "Creators of Coventry's new drama Phoenix Rise say show was inspired by their own childhood". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ "Fleur East joins the cast of Phoenix Rise". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ Kaur, Jaspreet (14 June 2022). "New BBC high school drama Phoenix Rise being filmed in Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Kaur, Jaspreet (24 November 2022). "Crews filming kids' drama series at popular restaurant in Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Kaur, Jaspreet (21 December 2022). "Actors filming upcoming BBC kids drama at multimillion pound venue in Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Conlon, Tara (24 February 2023). "The new Grange Hill? BBC goes back to school with teen drama Phoenix Rise". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix Rise: The Album". Demon Music Group. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ Harrison, Phil (17 March 2023). "The seven best shows to stream this week". Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (21 March 2023). "Phoenix Rise review – like Grange Hill meets The Breakfast Club". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ Ellen, Barbara (26 March 2023). "The week in TV". Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix Rise". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "ABC iview: new shows streaming in November 2023". ScreenHub. 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix Rise". Yle.
- ^ "RTS MIDLANDS AWARDS 2023". Royal Television Society. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (17 October 2023). "MIPCOM Diversify TV Awards Winners Unveiled". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
External links edit
- Phoenix Rise at BBC Online
- Phoenix Rise at IMDb