Season 1
Britannia High is a British musical drama television series co-produced by ITV Productions and Globe Productions which focuses on the lives of a group of teenagers and their mentors at a fictional London theatre school. The premise is similar to the popular musicals High School Musical and Fame.
The series originally aired in the UK on ITV from 26 October to 20 December, 2008. It was cancelled by ITV in January 2009. There are 11 hour-long episodes in the series.
Britannia High premiered in South Africa on M-Net on Sunday 10 May 2009, at 17h00.
Synopsis
Musical drama Britannia High is set to explode onto our television screens in a whirlwind of dance, music and 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 new 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.
The show 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 (Mark Benton) and dance mentor Stefan (Adam Garcia). Lorraine Pilkington also stars as music mentor Anna and Michele Austin as eccentric landlady, Mrs Troy.
The extended finale episode is 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.
There are 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.