BBC Orders What It Feels Like for a Girl Adaptation

The BBC has commissioned What It Feels Like for a Girl, a Y2K spin on a coming-of-age drama inspired by the memoir of the same name by writer and journalist Paris Lees.

Made by Hera Pictures (Mary & George, Temple, Hamnet) for BBC Three and iPlayer, the eight-part series will be adapted for television by Lees. Lead director is Chris Sweeney (The Tourist, Back To Life).

The story follows teenager Byron whose life explodes in a rush when they escape their small working-class town to Nottingham’s kinetic underworld and discover the East Midlands’ premier podium-dancer-cum-hellraiser, the mesmerizing Lady Die. Byron is adopted into Lady Die’s hilarious and chaotic family of trouble-makers: “The Fallen Divas.”

Filming will take place in 2024.

Lees said: “I’m excited, hysterical, thrown and overblown with bliss, but most of all, I’m just having so much fun bringing this universe to life in a visual medium. It’s a primal scream—from the depths of a council estate—against a world that would prefer people who don’t fit the norm didn’t exist. But we do, and we’re not going away, we’re not apologizing, and we’re not shutting up. This is a deeply personal project, and I’m thrilled to be working with the BBC and the team at Hera, who have been so supportive of both me and my creative vision. The fact Chris Sweeney is directing, well, I feel like I’m top of the pops. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’re cooking up.”

Liza Marshall, executive producer for Hera Pictures, said: “Paris is a truly exciting talent. She has created a daringly distinctive world, richly drawn characters that viewers will fall in love with, and a compelling story that will challenge perceptions. With Paris, the BBC and Chris Sweeney, we have found the dream team of creative partners, and we could not be more thrilled to be working with them to bring this ground-breaking series to life in a way that is just as funny, gobby, joyful, heartbreaking and thought-provoking as her original memoir.”

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, added: “We’re delighted to join forces with Paris Lees, Chris Sweeney and all at Hera Pictures to bring Paris’ fantastic debut book to BBC Three and iPlayer. Anyone who’s read What It Feels Like for a Girl will know what a hugely distinctive, surprising and moving work it is, and its journey to the BBC—adapted by Paris herself—sees the arrival of an exciting new voice in U.K. television.”

Sweeney said: “What a team to be making this with. Paris is a unique talent, Hera Pictures are an extraordinary bunch, and the team at the BBC has been so supportive of what is a truly special story. I’m very excited about this show.”