BBC orders Wales-set drama from Duck Soup, Wales Screen Summit told

Leeds-based indie Duck Soup Films has landed its first commission for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, a drama called Lost Boys & Fairies that will be filmed and set in Wales.

Rhuanedd Richards at Wales Screen Summit

Announced by BBC Cymru Wales director Rhuanedd Richards at the inaugural Wales Screen Summit in Cardiff today, the 4×60’ series is a joint commission from BBC Drama and BBC Cymru Wales.

The series follows a singer at a Cardiff queer club and his partner as they adopt their first child. The script is written by Daf James and filming will start next year.

The project was developed as part of the BBC Writersroom’s TV Drama Writers’ Programme 2019. Lost Boys & Fairies will be set and filmed in Wales and casting will be announced in due course.

The series was commissioned by former director of BBC drama Piers Wenger and Nick Andrews, head of commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, as part of the BBC’s Small Indie Fund, which supports the growth of small independent production companies

“Daf’s voice is utterly unique and this story is full of heart and magic. We hope it will strike a chord with almost everyone,” said Ben Irving, acting director of BBC Drama.

Nick Andrews, head of commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, added: “This is the latest in a whole number of co-commissions with BBC Drama which puts Wales and Welsh talent on screen for audiences across the UK.”

Lost Boys & Fairies is created, written and executive produced by James. The executive producers are Jessica Brown Meek, Rebekah Wray-Rogers and Libby Durdy for Duck Soup Films and Jo McClellan for BBC.

It will be distributed by All3Media International, which agreed a first-look deal with Duck Soup this month.

The BBC commission comes soon after Duck Soup won a green light from Channel 4 for drama Dance School (8×30’). Created by Theresa Ikoko (Rocks, Girls) and Lisa Holdsworth (Discovery of Witches, Call The Midwife), Dance School follows an eclectic group of dance students as they navigate the highs and lows of coming of age in today’s world.