A Kind of Spark (TV series)

A Kind of Spark is a British children's television series, produced by Canadian-based 9 Story Media Group, based on the novel by Elle McNicoll.[1][2] The series follows Addie, "an autistic 11-year-old [who] seeks to memorialize the women once tried as witches in her English village". It first premiered on 31 March 2023 on BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, followed by a network premiere on the CBBC on 17 April.[3] It has been commissioned for a second series.[4]

A Kind of Spark
GenreFantasy
Children's television series
Created byAnna McCleery
Based onA Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Starring
  • Lola Blue
  • Georgia De Gidlow
  • Caitlin Hamilton
  • Eve Midgley
  • Hattie Gotobed
ComposerJessica Dannheisser
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producersAnna McCleery
Gráinne McNamara
Luke Johnson
ProducersPaul Munn
Kim Powers
Running time25 minutes
Production companies9 Story Media Group
LS Productions
Release
Original networkCBBC
Original release31 March 2023 (2023-03-31) –
present

Cast
  • Lola Blue as Addie
  • Georgia De Gidlow as Keedie
  • Caitlin Hamilton as Nina
  • Eve Midgley as Audrey
  • Hattie Gotobed as Maggie Fraser
  • Ella Maisy Purvis as Elinor Fraser
  • Ben Willbond as Adam Quinn
  • Daisy Whitehead as Heather
  • Emma Tracey as Beth
  • Andrew Readman as Mr. Laird
  • Amy Marston as Miss Murphy
  • Geoffrey Newland as James Darrow

Production

The series was filmed in Knutsford, Cheshire. The series features several actors who are neurodivergent, as is also the case for a large portion of the production team.[5]

Episodes

Series 1
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Spark"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery and Elle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
2"Juniper"Marek LoseyElle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
3"The Witch List"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
4"Sisters"Marek LoseyVicki Lutas31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
5"Party"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery and Vicki Lutas31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
6"Nicest Village"Matt HoltAnna McCleery31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
7"Sleepover"Matt HoltKarissa Hamilton-Bannis31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
8"Something Wicked"Matt HoltVicki Lutas31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
9"Burnout"Matt HoltElle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
10"The Way I Am"Matt HoltAnna McCleery and Elle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)

Reception

In an article for The Guardian, disability activist and writer Cathy Reay praised the production's commitment to platforming disabled talent in a children's series.[6]

References
  1. Layton, Mark (12 October 2021). "BBC orders 'A Kind Of Spark' adaptation from Canada's 9 Story Media". Television Business International. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. Scorziello, Sophia; Flam, Charna (23 March 2023). "BBC and BYUtv Adaptation of "A Kind of Spark" Set to Premiere on World Autism Awareness Day (TV News Roundup)". Variety. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  3. "A Kind of Spark author Elle McNicoll - "It's a story of sisterhood, neurodiversity and standing firm in the face of a mob"". BBC Media Centre (Press release). 13 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. https://worldscreen.com/tvkids/a-kind-of-spark-renewed/
  5. "A Kind of Spark to premiere on BBC iPlayer, CBBC, BYUtv and CBC!". 9story.com. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. Reay, Cathy (11 April 2023). "'There's no part we can't do. That's so empowering': the CBBC drama revolutionising onscreen autism". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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