ITV announces new musical drama

New musical drama Britannia High is set to explode onto our television screens this autumn in a whirlwind of stunning dance, sensational music and unforgettable drama.

With original music composed by some of the biggest names in pop including Gary Barlow, Guy Chambers, Steve Mac, Mark Owen and Eliot Kennedy, Britannia High introduces six highly talented lead actors – Sapphire Elia, Georgina Hagen, Rana Roy, Mitch Hewer, Matthew James Thomas and Marcquelle Ward.

Created by acclaimed choreographer Arlene Phillips and theatre impresario David Ian and produced by the drama team in Manchester responsible for Coronation Street, Blue Murder and Mobile, the focus of Britannia High is a contemporary British performing arts school where the super-talented students study hard to achieve their dreams of stardom while learning important lessons about friendship, love and life.

There’s also cameo appearances from some of the UK’s top recording artistes – Girls Aloud and Boyzone plus special guest appearances by Coronation Street’s Ryan Thomas, ex-Busted and I’m A Celebrity winner, Matt Willis, EastEnders and Hollyoaks actress, Gemma Bissex and comedian Richard Blackwood.

Creative Director of Choreography for Britannia High Arlene Phillips and David Ian are Executive Producers working with the ITV Productions team led by Series Producer and Lead Director Brian Grant, Producer Gareth Philips and Executive Producers Kieran Roberts, Mark Wells and for Globe Productions Anita Land, that spent six months selecting the drama’s performers who sing, dance and act in the fictional performing arts school.

In conjunction with Globe Productions, the television arm of Universal Music, Britannia High will be ITV’s most ambitious 360 degree, multi platform show to date. Extra content is planned on ITV.com, ITV mobile, ITV Red Button, ITV interactive and social networking site Bebo. Fascination Records (part of the Universal Music Group) will release an album of tracks featured in the series on November 17th.

Prior to this a number of free downloads will be made available via, itv.com/britanniahigh.com, britanniahigh.com and also a partnership with iTunes and Bebo, starting with the Gary Barlow / Eliot Kennedy / Ina Wroldsen penned theme tune “Start Of Something” on September 29th.

And in an unprecedented step for an ITV1 drama, the first episode will be available a week before network transmission at the Britannia High website – itv.com/britanniahigh and britanniahigh.com.

During eight hour-long episodes and the 75 minute spectacular finale, the drama series explores the lives of the students, Claudine, Lauren, Danny, Lola, Jez and BB, as they attempt to learn how to make their mark on the world. They’re striving to be the best they possibly can be in every discipline and, as in life, there’s plenty of heartache, turmoil, laughs and fun along the way.

Supporting them throughout their trials and tribulations are Principal Nugent played by Mark Benton (The Street, City Lights), and dance mentor Stefan played by Adam Garcia (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Coyote Ugly). Lorraine Pilkington (Rough Diamond, Monarch of the Glen) also stars as music mentor Anna and Michele Austin (The Last Detective, The Bill) as eccentric landlady, Mrs Troy.

The extended finale episode will be the pinnacle of the storylines played out throughout the drama. It will also feature showcase performances from the cast, who will sing, dance and act their hearts out for a specially invited studio audience.

The Britannia High website will be the virtual home of the performing arts school, a place where fans can become involved with the ups and downs of life as a student, with exclusive episodes, blogs, photographs, e-newsletters and an online radio station presented by the two school DJs and featuring music by top Universal Artists.

Social network Bebo, bebo.com/britanniahigh, will be the place to delve deeper into the worlds of the characters, and at the touch of the Red Button - available through Sky Digital - viewers will be able to enjoy preview and catch up video, read character profiles, check out photo galleries and take part in dance tutorials.

Fans can also visit the official Britannia High mobile site for free highlight clips of all the best bits from the series, news and gossip, plus mobile downloads including exclusive show wallpapers and tones.

Britannia High was commissioned by Paul Jackson, ITV Director of Entertainment and Comedy and Michaela Hennessy-Vass ITV Commissioning Editor, Comedy. Both feel really passionate about the project and have been involved at every step of production.

“This is an exciting new format, and there isn’t anything else quite like it on British Television. We’re confident audiences are going to love it,” said Paul.

“From the outset it was our intention to line up some of the biggest names in music and entertainment to make Britannia High. We hope to captivate viewers with stories of these talented young people experiencing the time of their lives, as they struggle to realise their dreams and seize the moment.”