Bring The Drama is a new reality series that will show that acting is a notoriously difficult profession to break into.
The BBC2 show sees comedian and actor Bill Bailey give eight aspiring actors the chance to make their dreams come true. The contestants are taken to the real-life sets of some of the UK’s best-loved dramas, including Peaky Blinders, Silent Witness and EastEnders, where they will be tasked with recreating some iconic scenes from the shows.
They will be out through their paces by acting coach Gemma Crooks and casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry, who has cast shows such as Bridgerton, Gangs of London, Ghosts and Broadchurch. Each week they'll also be given tips from celebrity guests such as EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy and Casualty’s Charles Venn.
At the end of the six-part series, the top three actors will be given the opportunity to present their showreels to top agents.
“It has been a delight to work on Bring The Drama and witness first-hand how the actors have grown in confidence and skills over the weeks,” says host Bill Bailey.
“What I particularly liked was the way it shows the whole process of making TV - being on an actual set, with a real crew to help you learn what it’s really like. It was great fun but also a brilliant insight into how casting works and a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of some of our most popular TV shows.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the BBC2 series Bring The Drama…
Bring The Drama release date
Bring The Drama is a six-part reality series that started on BBC2 on Wednesday, February 14 2024 at 9pm.
The show will air in the same Wednesday night slot on BBC2 each week, with the next episode airing on Wednesday, March 6.
The episodes are also all available on BBCiPlayer.
Bring the Drama — how it works
Eight aspiring actors have been chosen through an open casting call which saw almost 2,000 people apply. None of them have been to drama school or found a way to break into the profession, having been held back by a variety of reasons.
"They’re a terrific bunch from different walks of life," says Bill Bailey, 59. "Acting is what they’ve wanted to do their whole lives, but they’ve all faced challenges that have prevented them from pursuing their dream."
Each episode sees them head to a real-life film set where they will be asked to recreate iconic scenes, under the watchful eye of their mentor, casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry. They will also receive tips and advice from established actors.
The contestants will work with industry professionals to learn how to do fight scenes and act out sex storylines. At the end of the process, Kelly will choose the three most promising actors to present their showreel at a major industry showcase in the hope they can bag themselves an agent.
Bring the Drama host Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey says: "Bring The Drama is an intriguing idea, inviting people who’ve never had any professional acting experience to be coached and mentored. Not only does it go behind the scenes of TV shows like EastEnders, you find out about the real nuts and bolts process of acting itself. It’s a tough racket to have a career in and this doesn’t sugar coat it. We follow eight amateur actors as they film famous scenes from TV programmes. Each week they have to audition for the main roles, which are then filmed with a full TV crew, edited and screened to the cast. Whoever has impressed Kelly will be named Actor of the Week and eventually she selects three people to go through to a final showcase and the chance to pursue their screen career."
* Comedian Bill Bailey hosts Bring the Drama but has previously starred in Black Books, Worzel Gummidge, Hustle, Skins, Doctor Who, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang and Spaced. He won Strictly Come Dancing 2020 and hosts travelogues such as Bill Bailey’s Australian Adventure and Walks with My Dog. Bill was a team captain on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and stars on panel shows such as QI and Have I Got News For You.
Celebrity guest mentors on Bring The Drama
The contestants on Bring The Drama will be given advice from actors including Natalie Cassidy (EastEnders), Genesis Lynea (Silent Witness, Champion), Charles Venn (Casualty, Dream Team), Ed Speelers (Downton Abbey, You) and Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty, The Rig), as well as working with industry experts such as the Peaky Blinders’ fight co-ordinator and the intimacy co-ordinator from Sex Education.
Biing the drama episode guide
Here's a guide to the episodes in Bring The Drama, which we'll be updating as the series progresses...
Episode 1
All eight are up for roles in an iconic EastEnders scene, which they shoot on the EastEnders set, with Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia in the soap, directing. But with a short rehearsal time and the pressure of performing in front of a crew, which wannabes will win the actor of the week accolade? "Acting is a tough business, you have to be determined and resilient," says Bill Bailey. "And there's no luxury of time, particularly with soaps. You get a few goes to shoot the scene then you move on. You have to crack on with it!"
Episode 2
The aspiring actors turn crime fighters on the set of hit drama, Silent Witness: who can cut it as the forensic hotshot, Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox)? Coached by Silent Witness star Genesis Lynea, the amateurs need to master difficult scientific language and bring a convincing air of authority to win actor of the week and get one step closer to the final industry showcase.
Episode 3
The wannabe small screen stars head to Birmingham in episode three to battle it out on the set of one of the UK’s biggest ever dramas, helped by the show’s fight co-ordinator Jason White. They must show menace. They must show no fear. They must show they are prepared to die. It will end in a flurry of tears, flying fists and bullets. Who will be crowned actor of the week and be one step closer to the showcase? Guest star Charlene McKenna AKA Laura McKee in Peaky Blinders.
Episode 4
The actors’ skills are put to the test on the set of Casualty in Cardiff. They need to deliver instant and convincing reactions to a life-and-death situation, while also conveying the personal narrative bubbling underneath. The filming is much tougher than they expect and a real taste of how intense screen acting can be. Luckily, Holby Hospital paramedic star Charles Venn, who plays Jacob Masters on the show, is there to guide them through the tricky medical jargon and big emotional beats.
Episodes 5 and 6
We'll be updating soon so do check back.
Casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry on Bring The Drama
Kelly Valentine Hendry, who has cast shows such as Bridgerton and Broadchurch, will be coaching the acting contestants in Bring The Drama.
“Historically it has been much easier to break into the industry if you come from a privileged background and the more we can do to change that, the better,” explains Kelly Valentine Hendry. "It’s not the same as some of the other big talent shows —we don’t show you the huge selection process. We only focus on the group of people who we think have a shot at doing well. Hopefully the audience will enjoy watching people who are passionate about being actors get a taste of the profession in the real world. They will see how hard it is but equally how rewarding it is when you succeed. We aren’t saying that drama school is not a great way of getting on the ladder - it is an excellent way to start. But many can’t afford it and it is exciting to throw this experience out there to others.
“This series is a brilliant way to emphasize and celebrate that great talent can come from anywhere. And above all, it’s a real insight into all the hard work that goes into bringing great drama to screen. It’s not easy – in fact, I think people will be surprised by how challenging it is.”
All about acting coach Gemma Crooks
Putting the contestants through their paces is Bring The Drama acting coach, Gemma Crooks who says: "The audience can expect to see a process of what is required of the actor when working on screen. It's a chance to start to understand the various elements that go into being a screen actor and how working in collaboration with others is a vital soft skill that artists need to consider."
Meet the actors
The eight actors are all on our main pic above and here's more about them below...
* Chris Flynn, 23, from Warrington
* Delasi Zikpi, 27, from West London
* George Heron, 62, from County Durham
* Janice Sampson, 67, from Sheffield
* Lizzie Alabi, 26, from London
* Luca Gittens, 24, from Runcorn (lives in London now)
* Rehanna Bernard, 47, from London
* Jordan Skelly (see pictured below), 27, from Manchester
Is there a trailer for Bring The Drama?
There's no Bring The Drama trailer yet, but if one is released we’ll post it up on this page.
