1 x 20’ for BBC Three
Charly and Ellen have been best friends ever since a shared moment of transformational theatre in Year 8 Drama Club. 10 years on, Charly is leaving New York and a dubious career in Broadway leafleting to visit Ellen back in their home village of Cumwell. Neither of them can wait to relive the glory days of their friendship: a non-stop rom-com of hair crimping, MmmBop and an unhealthy level of co-dependence. But Ellen soon discovers that Charly isn’t planning on moving back permanently, crushing the dream they’d always shared of living in London together. Now at odds and no longer as inseparable as they’d imagined, Charly discovers that her mysterious lack of periods is a result of something much bigger and scarier. Their world is suddenly tipped upside down as they fight to make sure their friendship rom-com has a happy ending.
Based on the sell-out live show of the same name, Britney was created Charly Clive (Pure) and Ellen Robertson, and is largely inspired by their real-life experience of growing up as best friends, then finding out that Charly had a brain tumour. The show stars the two creators as themselves alongside Omid Djalili (The Mummy, His Dark Materials, The Omid Djalili Show), Tony Gardner (Last Tango in Halifax, Fresh Meat, My Parents Are Aliens) and Lia Williams (The Crown, His Dark Materials, The Foreigner).
The pilot premiered on BBC One and was directed by Luke Snellin, produced by Chris Norris and executively produced by Roanna Benn and Jen Kenwood. It is now streaming on BBC Iplayer.
Britney has received brilliant reviews from an array of publications such as Metro, Radio Times, The Guardian and more:
“It’s sharp, funny and understatedly inspiring” – The Metro
“A gorgeous portrait of the eccentricities and glories of an intense friendship, peppered with funny details and brilliant imaginative touch” – Radio Times
“[Britney] is a sweet, smart and sometimes refreshingly silly story.” – The Guardian
“…ferociously funny, heart-wrenching and honest, [it] makes me thrilled BBC Three is coming back to television… Britney deserves the widest audience possible” – The I
“[A] heart-warming, unflinching comedy…crack supporting cast.” – Sunday Telegraph
“[Britney has] a distinctive, sparky atmosphere well matched to the pair’s friendship… Clive and Robertson’s performances and chemistry are as a natural as you could hope… this tender, witty pilot leaves you yearning to find out how the pair deal with the biggest of life’s issues through their love and humour.” – Chortle