New Digital YA Drama from BBC Scotland

Production has started on Float, a digital YA drama produced by Black Camel Pictures for BBC iPlayer.

Commissioned by BBC Scotland in partnership with Screen Scotland, the 6×10-minute drama is written by Scottish playwright Stef Smith. Float follows Jade, a university dropout who has found herself back in her seaside hometown working as a lifeguard at the local pool. Jade is hiding the terrible truth of why she left Glasgow, and the rest of the motley crew of staff have troubles of their own.

Float stars Hannah Jarrett-Scott (Trust Me), Jessica Hardwick (Snow Angel), Ben Presley (Doctor Who, Galavant), Jack Stewart (Outlander), Polina Sulim (Sweet) and Izuka Hoyle (The Outpost, Clique).

Smith commented: “I’m so very grateful to have had the opportunity to finally shine a light on the LGBTQ+ stories that exist outside of urban centers and to lead this drama with two female queer characters, played with such honesty and complexity. Representation matters and I hope that viewers might see some of themselves in this series and feel a little less alone in what makes their heartache and what gives them hope.”

Jarrett-Scott added: “It’s so important to see characters like Jade on screen. I’m holding all the folk in her heart that wished they’d seen her before now. They make her who she is and they are keeping her afloat. It’s a true privilege to feel a part of something that I know is the first of its kind in Scotland.”

Gavin Smith, commissioning executive for scripted and entertainment at BBC Scotland, commented: “Stef’s brilliant script has authentically captured a young adult story set outside the big towns and cities of Scotland. It’s full of heart and romance and we are delighted to be working with Black Camel and partnering with Screen Scotland to bring Float to iPlayer. Float continues our commitment to portray contemporary Scotland and the lives of our audience across our services, and iPlayer is the perfect destination for the young adult audience to find it both locally and across the whole U.K.”

Jennifer Armitage from Screen Scotland said: “Float introduces us to a community of young people living in rural Scotland, and the real issues they are facing today, and we can’t wait for audiences to meet Jade and her friends. It is fantastic to be working in partnership with BBC Scotland to provide vital development opportunities for Scotland’s writing and acting talent through commissions like this fresh new drama from Stef Smith and Black Camel.”

Arabella Page-Croft, executive producer/director, said: “Float gives us the opportunity to take some of Scotland’s brightest and smartest theatre talents in writer Stef Smith and actors Hannah Jarrett-Scott and Jessica Hardwick, and to introduce their talents to a much broader digital audience. We are hugely grateful that both BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland committed to a six-part series for Float. We’ve fallen in love with Stef’s two lead characters, Jade and Colette, and can’t wait to share their beautiful and tender love story with our audiences.”