Phoenix Rise (TV series)

Phoenix Rise is British television series, made by BBC Studios. Perrie Balthazar and Matt Evans act as creators, lead writers and executive producers. The series was launched on BBC iPlayer on 21 March 2023, and had its terrestrial premiere on BBC Three on 24 March 2023.[1]

Phoenix Rise
Created by
  • Perrie Balthazar
  • Matt Evans
Screenplay by
  • Perrie Balthazar
  • Matt Evans
Directed by
  • Claire Tailyour
  • Karl Neilson
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producers
  • Ali Bryer Carron
  • Perrie Balthazar
  • Matt Evans
ProducerJoanna Hanley
CinematographyClaudio Cadman
EditorJonathan Lucas
Production company
Release
Original networkBBC Three
Original release21 March 2023 (2023-03-21) –
present

On 12 April 2023, a second series aired in late September 2023, and it’s also been confirmed that a third and fourth series has been commissioned by the BBC.[2]

Synopsis

A diverse group of teenagers who have been excluded from a West Midlands school begin their first steps back into education.[3]

Cast
  • Lauren Corah as Summer Bailey
  • Alex Draper as Billy Hopkins
  • Jayden Hanley as Darcy Trent
  • Krish Bassi as Khaled
  • Tara Webb as Rani
  • Imogen Baker as Leila
  • Orla McDonagh as Rhianna Hopkins
  • Tyler Fayose as Jamie Stewart
  • Joshua Cullinane as Nathan Keyes
  • Emmanuella Martins as Bee
  • Jessal Kullar-Bell as Cassidy
  • Jack Connor as Sam
  • Zita Sattar as Miss Abel
  • Paul Nicholls as Carl Hopkins
  • Lauren Crace as Ms Benson
  • Yasmin Steadman as Becky
  • Fintan Buckard as Ethan
  • Karen Johal as Noreen Khan
  • Anil Desai as Reaz Khan

Production

The series was produced by BBC Kids & Family Productions.[4] Perrie Balthazar and Matt Evans, creators, lead writers and executive producers on the series are both from the Midlands, where the series is set. They told the BBC they wanted to “focus on kids who had fallen through the cracks in the system, who were given one last chance to make a success of their time at school" and that they wanted a series that “champions the underdog, shining a light on kids who don't often get a chance in the spotlight on British TV."[5] They met writing on EastEnders and discussed working on a new project together when both were writing on the Channel 4 series Ackley Bridge.[6]

The second series is scheduled to be shown in September 2023. In April 2023, the series was renewed for series three and four by CBBC.[7][8]

Casting

Paul Nicholls was cast as Carl, Billy's father, in June 2022 with Orla McDonagh playing Billy's sister Rihanna.[9] Derby-based actress Yasmin Steadman landed the role of pupil federal officer Becky Phillips.[10] Tyler Fayose appears as school headteacher Jamie Stewart. Actor Karen Johal joined the cast in June 2022 portraying Khaled's Mum Noreen Khan.[11] The pupils are played by up-and-coming actors from across the West Midlands with show co-creator Matt Evans saying they wanted to find 'local talent and authentic voices' through an extensive casting process.[12]

Filming

Filming began in June 2022 in Coventry at the former secondary school Woodlands Academy.[13] Locations were all found and managed by Nigel P Harris. Filming also took place in Coventry at the Steakout restaurant on Corporation Street,[14] and Players Entertainment on Silver Street.[15]

Music

The series featured original music from unsigned Coventry bands. [16]

Broadcast

Phoenix Rise premiered on BBC iPlayer on 21 March 2023 and the first two episodes were aired on BBC Three on 24 March 2023. Series 2 premiered on BBC iPlayer on 25 September 2023 [17]

Series 1 (2023)
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Second Chance"Claire TailyourPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
22"The Boiler Room Six"Claire TailyourPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
33"King of Cov"Claire TailyourSteph Lacey21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
44"Catch Feels"Claire TailyourIshy Din21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
55"Detention"Claire TailyourWendy Granditer21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
66"Deadbeats and Dropouts"Claire TailyourWally Jiagoo21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
77"All for One"Claire TailyourJeffrey Aidoo21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
88"Hit and Run"Karl NeilsonPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
99"A Star is Born"Karl NeilsonShazia Rashid21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)
1010"We Are Infinite"Karl NeilsonPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans21 March 2023 (2023-03-21)

Series 2 (2023)
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"New Rules"Karl NeilsonPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
22"Double Date"Karl NeilsonWendy Granditer25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
33"Bad Influence"Karl NeilsonTiwa Lade25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
44"Dirty Tricks"Karl NeilsonIshy Din25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
55"Into The Wild"Claire TailyourMark Burt25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
66"Breaking Badly"Claire TailyourJeffrey Aidoo25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
77"Fire Fifteen"Claire TailyourPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
88"Exam Hell"Claire TailyourSteph Lacey25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
99"Catfish"Claire TailyourPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)
1010"The Reckoning"Claire TailyourPerrie Balthazar & Matt Evans25 September 2023 (2023-09-25)

Reception

Rebecca Nicholson in The Guardian described the series as having a “refreshing, soapy confidence”, whilst the choice to “focus on outsiders who have been written off, but who might just be about to get their second chance, gives it a winning underdog mentality” and that the series seemed “all heart, all sincerity” with a “nobody left behind” ethos which was “sweetly affecting”.[18]

References
  1. "Phoenix Rise - Meet the characters and creators of the bold new school drama". BBC Media Centre (Press release). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/bbc-childrens-new-commissions-for-children-and-families-across-the-uk
  3. "Launch for new BBC school drama set in Coventry". BBC News. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  4. Balaga, Marta (17 October 2022). "'This is a Show about Second Chances,' Creators of 'Phoenix Rise' Say at MipJunior". Variety. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. "Phoenix Rise - Meet the characters and creators of the bold new school drama". bbc.com. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  6. Bell, Matthew (9 March 2023). "Phoenix Rise: Kids' drama rises from the ashes". rts.org. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  7. Pearce, Vanessa (15 April 2023). "Phoenix Rise: Coventry teens' authentic voices' help success of BBC drama". BBC News. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  8. "Hit Coventry-based TV show Phoenix Rise gets two more series". Coventry Telegraph. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  9. Wren, Shaun (13 June 2022). "Ex-EastEnders star Paul Nicholls cast in new BBC drama". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  10. Connelly, Joseph (14 March 2023). "Adorable way BBC Phoenix Rise star Yasmin Steadman tried to start her acting career". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  11. "Karen Johal | Actor". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  12. Masuan, Saskia (16 March 2023). "Creators of Coventry's new drama Phoenix Rise say show was inspired by their own childhood". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  13. Kaur, Jaspreet (14 June 2022). "New BBC high school drama Phoenix Rise being filmed in Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  14. Kaur, Jaspreet. "Crews filming kids' drama series at popular restaurant in Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  15. Kaur, Jaspreet (21 December 2022). "Actors filming upcoming BBC kids drama at multimillion pound venue in Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  16. Conlon, Tara (24 February 2023). "The new Grange Hill? BBC goes back to school with teen drama Phoenix Rise". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  17. Millar, Will (1 March 2023). "Phoenix Rise - how to watch brand new BBC coming-of-age drama and main cast list". Birmingham World. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  18. Nicholson, Rebecca (21 March 2023). "Phoenix Rise review – like Grange Hill meets The Breakfast Club". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
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