Lewis Gribben, Samuel Bottomley, Lisa McGrillis and Rory Keenan join Channel 4’s drama Somewhere Boy

22 July 2021

An 8 x 30’ series from Clerkenwell Films 

Channel 4 has today announced the cast joining the coming of age drama Somewhere Boy (formerly announced as The Birth of Daniel F Harris). The 8 x 30’ series is written by Pete Jackson (One Normal Night, Love In Recovery) and is produced by Clerkenwell Films, the makers of the BAFTA award-winning Channel 4 shows The End of the F***ing World and Misfits. 

Lewis Gribben (Deadwater Fell, Limbo, Get Duked!) stars as Danny, an eighteen-year-old whose mother was killed in a car accident when he was a baby. Overwhelmed with grief, his dad Steve, played by Rory Keenan (The Duchess, War & Peace, Peaky Blinders) bought a house in the middle of nowhere and locked Danny in, telling him the world outside was full of monsters waiting to take him away. Just like they took his mum.

For eighteen years they lived a happy existence together, listening to Benny Goodman records and watching old movies with no sad endings. And that’s how Danny grew up. It was all he knew, all he needed - him and his dad against the world. But when Danny turns eighteen, everything he’s ever known explodes in an instant.

Danny is taken to live with his well-meaning but stressed-out aunt Sue, played by Lisa McGrillis (Mum, Deadwater Fell, No Offence) and cousin Aaron, played by Samuel Bottomley (Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Ackley Bridge, Ladhood). Aaron is a shy and awkward eighteen-year-old, desperately in need of a friend, but his very strange cousin definitely wasn’t who he had in mind.

While Aaron grew up watching YouPorn and YouTube, Danny was raised on a diet of The Lavender Hill Mob, Brief Encounter and The Red Shoes. Living with Danny is a massive eye-opener for Aaron, seeing the world through his strange cousin’s eyes. And slowly, tentatively, both Danny and Aaron start to emerge from their shells together - as Danny tries to find the real monster, the one that killed his mother…

This is an utterly compelling, surprising and darkly comic story that follows a young man finding his place in a world he never knew existed. 

Somewhere Boy is produced by Clerkenwell Films (The End of the F***ing World, Misfits) for Channel 4 and has been commissioned by Channel 4’s Head of Drama, Caroline Hollick and overseen by Commissioning Editor, Gwawr Lloyd. The executive producers at Clerkenwell Films are Murray Ferguson, Petra Fried and Emily Harrison. Gavin O’Grady (This Way Up, The Duchess) will produce. Alex Winckler (This Way Up, My Mad Fat Diary) and Alexandra Brodski (Joy) will direct. Somewhere Boy is made in association with BBC Studios who will also distribute the series internationally. Filming commenced this summer.

 

About Clerkenwell Films: 

Since launching in 1998, Clerkenwell Films has produced many award-winning, critically acclaimed shows including The End of the F***ing World and Misfits, both of which won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series. 

 

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group, supporting the licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Bluey. BBC Studios has offices in over 20 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further seven countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2000 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Netflix and Migu, is a champion for British creativity around the world.  It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles.

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For further information please contact: 

Jo Blanket

Channel 4 Publicity Manager, Comedy, Drama & Acquisitions