This 'Thrilling' New BBC Drama Is Your Next Binge-Watch
The new BBC drama What It Feels Like For A Girl is already generating a lot of conversation.
Based on the memoir of the same name by journalist, presenter and transgender activist Paris Lees, the coming-of-age comedy-drama centres around teenage Byron as they navigate the many highs and lows of growing up queer in the East Midlands in the 2000s, and how their life changes as they find their own tribe.
Over the course of it eight episodes, What It Feels Like For A Girl tackles heavy subjects like gender identity, sex, class and the importance of community and chosen family for queer people, and is already being hailed as 'totally fearless', 'raw' and 'essential viewing'.
Here's a selection of why the BBC series is being called a must-watch …
The Guardian (4/5)
'It's certainly a wild ride – I'll struggle to look at a toilet brush the same way ever again – but if you stay on board until the end, a memorably complex psychological portrait will be your reward.'
The Independent (4/5)
'At a time when the trans community are being forced to suffer almost daily indignities at the hands of Britain's political and media establishment, the presence of What It Feels Like for a Girl feels urgent [...] in a world where it is easy to feel pessimistic about the course of progress, What It Feels Like for a Girl presents an engaging – and rational – case for optimism.'
The Standard (4/5)
'For A Girl doesn't gloss over the messy bits. There's a lot of sex, drugs, and 2000s dance music. Scenes with predatory older men, from dirty doggers to corrupt coppers, are harrowing for the most part. But it also thrills with its portrayal of teenage transgression.'
'Make no mistake, What It Feels Like for a Girl is raw and frequently uncomfortable viewing [...] Yet the unease is what makes What It Feels Like for a Girl such a visceral, essential watch. We need more TV like it.'
The Times (4/5)
'This series is very bingeable. It is funny, heartbreaking, occasionally disturbing, sharply written and well acted, most notably by Ellis Howard, who plays Byron with wit and, at times, devastating poignancy [...] Thisis a raw drama that could easily have been depressing (and at times it is), but ends up ultimately being a buoyant story of resilience.'
'While the drama doesn't fall into the trap of educating or being overtly political, it's an overdue examination of how being lower class intersects with sexuality and gender identity… while also being an utter riot.'
Digital Spy
'We need more shows like this, singular outlooks that give a voice and artistic vision to communities long underserved on screen. That's especially true at a time when trans rights are being threatened even more than they were 25 years ago, in the time this show is set.
'To see not just trans pain, but trans joy, trans love and, most crucially, trans acceptance on a platform as widely viewed as the BBC will be nothing short of life-saving right now. This is 2025′s answer to It's a Sin, yet it's even more vital than that show in many ways. Another queer masterpiece that holds the potential for real-world change.'
'[ What It Feels Like For A Girl ] pulls no punches […] the series is a raw, hedonistic, brutal – but often hilarious – tale of Byron, a 15-year-old boy who is trying to find his identity and is desperate to escape the small-mindedness of his home town.'
Help and support:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Anthony Ramos claims Madonna was on her iPad ‘the whole time' during Hamilton performance
Anthony Ramos says he once caught Madonna distracted on her iPad throughout the 'whole' production of Hamilton. The Broadway star, 33, originated the lead roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical in 2015. On Thursday's episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Ramos was asked who the 'most terrifying celebrity [was] to spot in the audience' during his 15-month run. After taking a brief moment to think, he named Madonna, who he said had an 'iPad in her face.' 'She was like this the whole time,' he recalled, mimicking the pop icon looking down at an iPad in her lap. 'I was like, 'Damn, shawty. If you're not enjoying it that much, you know the door's right there. You ain't gotta stay here!'' Ramos laughed. The Independent has contacted Madonna's representative for comment. Ramos, who rose to fame with his dual portrayal of Laurens and Hamilton on Broadway, recently reunited with his former Hamilton castmates, including Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Leslie Odom, Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, and Phillipa Soo, at the 2025 Tony Awards. In celebration of the hit musical's tenth anniversary, they performed a medley of songs from the soundtrack, including 'Non-Stop,' 'My Shot,' 'History Has Its Eyes on You,' and 'The Room Where It Happens.' Ramos wasn't given a main part in the performance, leading to confusion among viewers. Hamilton, which opened on Broadway in 2015, received a record-breaking 16 nominations at the 70th Tony Awards and ultimately won 11 awards, including Best Musical. Following his time on Hamilton, Ramos went on to lead Miranda's 2021 film adaptation of his other hit musical, In the Heights. The singer and actor has since continued releasing his own music and starring in movies like 2024's Twisters and Spike Lee's newest crime-thriller, Highest 2 Lowest. According to IMDb, Ramos will star in six upcoming projects, including thriller-drama House of Dynamite, out October 24, as well as the big-screen adaptation of popular children's series Bob the Builder. He will portray the titular Bob in the Jennifer Lopez-produced movie.
Elle
10 hours ago
- Elle
‘28 Years Later' Is the Zombie Sequel You Didn't Know You Needed—Here's How to Watch
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Over two decades after 28 Days Later redefined zombie horror, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland return to their virus-ravaged world with 28 Years Later—the first in a newly planned trilogy. The $60 million sequel sees the Rage Virus still festering on British soil, while the rest of the world has moved on. Opening in theaters today, the film explores not just the ongoing fight for survival, but also the evolution of both the virus and humanity. Set on the remote Holy Island off England's northeast coast, 28 Years Later centers on 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams). who has never known a world beyond the fortified pathway linking his small community to the quarantined mainland. On his birthday, his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) takes him across the water for a harrowing rite of passage—only to find that the infected have evolved. Some crawl; others, now dubbed Alphas, lead organized hunting packs. The film also stars Jodie Comer as Isla, a housebound mother. 'There are moments that feel incredibly heightened—you're out of breath, facing elements of hysteria—but it's brilliant,' Comer told the BBC, describing the intensity of filming without CGI. While 28 Years Later doesn't revisit the immunity storyline from 28 Weeks Later, it does mark the beginning of a new arc that will stretch across two more films. Garland has already penned the second installment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman) and due next year. Boyle, who hopes to return for the trilogy's conclusion, confirmed to Collider that Cillian Murphy's Jim—last seen alive in 28 Days Later—will appear in the second and play a major role in the third. Not yet. The film is currently playing in theaters, with a streaming release date to be announced. Given Sony's distribution history, the title is likely to become available via digital purchase first, followed by streaming on one of its affiliated platforms—though no official plan has been confirmed. In the meantime, you can revisit the earlier films in the franchise: 28 Days Later is now available to stream on Pluto TV, and 28 Weeks Later is on Hulu and Tubi. Get Tickets
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Danny Boyle: Slumdog Millionaire was cultural appropriation
Danny Boyle has said his hit film Slumdog Millionaire was cultural appropriation. The British director, who also made the films Trainspotting and 127 Hours, said that he was proud of Slumdog Millionaire, but that 'you wouldn't even contemplate doing something like that today'. The 2008 Oscar-winning movie, which Boyle directed, follows the story of a boy from the slums of Mumbai who is one question away from winning the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, before being arrested on suspicion of cheating. It was shot in Mumbai, partly in Hindi, and used a local crew, but the award-winning director said he couldn't make it today. He would instead be 'looking for a young Indian filmmaker' to direct the picture, because his directing of the film was 'cultural appropriation'. He told The Guardian on his press tour for the horror film 28 Years Later: 'That kind of cultural appropriation might be sanctioned at certain times, but at other times it cannot be. It wouldn't even get financed. 'We wouldn't be able to make that now. And that's how it should be. It's time to reflect on all that. We have to look at the cultural baggage we carry and the mark that we've left on the world.' He said it was a 'flawed method' because it was filmed by 'outsiders'. 'At the time it felt radical. We made the decision that only a handful of us would go to Mumbai. 'We'd work with a big Indian crew and try to make a film within the culture. But you're still an outsider. It's still a flawed method. Even if I was involved, I'd be looking for a young Indian filmmaker to shoot it.' The film premiered at the 2008 Telluride Film Festival and won eight Oscars at the 2009 Academy Awards, including those for best picture and best director, as well as several BAFTA awards and Golden Globes. It was also a box office hit, making $378 million worldwide on a reported $15 million budget. Speaking about his directorial choices in the interview, Boyle explained: 'I value the popular audience. I believe in popular entertainment. 'I want to push the boat out, but take the popular audience with me.' Elsewhere, he discussed his direction of Isles of Wonder, the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics that featured Daniel Craig as James Bond and the late Queen Elizabeth II. The film, which was a celebration of British culture, also featured the National Health Service, Shakespeare, the Sex Pistols and Windrush migrants. However, Boyle said his 'biggest regret' was not featuring the BBC in it more, saying if he were to do it again he would 'big up' the 'precious' national broadcaster. He said: 'My biggest regret was that we didn't feature the BBC more. I was stopped from doing it because it was the host broadcaster. 'Every other objection, I told them to go f--- themselves. But that one I accepted and I regret that now, especially given the way that technology is moving. 'The idea that we have a broadcaster that is part of our national identity, but is also trusted around the world and that can't be bought, can't be subsumed into Meta or whatever, feels really precious. 'So yeah, if I was doing it again I'd big up the BBC big time. Everything else I'd do exactly the same.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
