CBBC launch football drama to coincide with Euro 2016

CBBC has announced a brand new children’s drama, Jamie Johnson, which is to hit TV screens around the Euro 2016 Championships and features cameos from Gary Lineker, Ruud Gullit and Notts County FC’s Roy Carroll.

“Children all over the country have been telling me just how excited they are about Jamie Johnson being brought to life and now they are going to see a cool, original, edgy drama that will speak to them on so many levels. I think the audience are going to absolutely love it.” – Dan Freedman, author of the Jamie Johnson book series

11-year-old Jamie Johnson (Louis Dunn) is a boy with a dream. A boy who lives and breathes football. These three episodes follow Jamie starting a new school, making new friends, dealing with school bully Dillon (played by Patrick Ward), getting to grips with his parents’ separation, searching for his absent father and eventually making the school’s football team, all with the support of his new friends Jack (played by Olivia Lava) and Boggy (played by Jonnie Kimmins).

Produced by Short Form Film Company, the three part children’s series, filmed entirely in and around Nottingham, is inspired by the book series Jamie Johnson, written by former Football Association editor Dan Freedman.

Jamie Johnson is about a boy with a dream: to defy all odds and become a famous footballer. Everyone has obstacles to overcome in their lives in order to achieve their goals. Learning from defeat and difficulty along the way is all part of that journey.

Series one of Jamie Johnson will air on CBBC from the 13th to the 15th of June at 5pm and is available on the BBC iPlayer.