FLOAT: PRODUCTION BEGINS ON NEW BBC DIGITAL DRAMA

Production has commenced on Float, an innovative digital drama produced by Black Camel Pictures for BBC iPlayer.

Written by acclaimed 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. Set in a small town in Scotland, Float is a lesbian coming-of-age story about how the secrets you hide can consume you.

Commenting on the drama, Stef says: “I'm so very grateful to have had the opportunity to finally shine a light on the LGBTQ+ stories that exist outside of urban centres, 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 heart ache and what gives them hope.”

Boasting a cast of young Scottish breakthrough acting talent, 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).

Hannah Jarrett-Scott adds: “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.”

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.”

Float is a Black Camel Pictures production. Arabella Page-Croft executive producer/director says: “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.”

Float will be scheduled for BBC iPlayer later in the year.