Latest news with #WhatItFeelsLikeForAGirl
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
What It Feels Like For a Girl is fearless TV - exactly what the BBC was made for
Released at the start of Pride month, the BBC adaptation of the bestselling book What It Feels Like For a Girl should have been a joyous moment for the LGBTQ+ community. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, given the current political climate across the world, Paris Lees' memoir coming to life on screen sparked a wave of transphobic commentary. From prominent newspaper columnists cruelly and incorrectly using male pronouns when discussing Lees' in their nasty 'reviews' to the sadly predictable tweets, this new BBC series has received far more hostile attention than it would have done had it not been centred around a transwoman's lived experience. Amid the controversy that occurs whenever trans people dare tell their stories, it's essential to not focus on 'backlash' and instead judge queer art on its substance rather than superfluous outrage. So, is What It Feels Like For A Girl any good? In short, yes - anyone refusing to watch this bold new series because of their views on gender identity is cutting their nose off to spite their face. What It Feels Like For a Girl is original, bold, witty, and sometimes uncomfortable viewing, with complicated characters that have you constantly changing your opinion of them. Set in the early 00s, allowing for a wonderful dose of Y2K nostalgia, What It Feels Like For a Girl follows 13-year-old Byron as they try to escape a life of homophobic bullying and forge a new path for themselves. Bryon's fed up with their dad - the weightlifting, womanising Gaz - and their mum, who fled to Turkey like Shirley Valentine. They've had enough of the people in Hucknall, until they meet the captivating Lady Die and The Fallen Divas and begin a rollercoaster ride of hedonism in the East Midlands. The main focus of the series is obviously Bryon's journey with their gender identity and the LGBTQ+ community, but What It Feels Like For a Girl is also packed with universal experiences that working-class people from the straight community will relate to and understand. I first read What It Feels Like For A Girl shortly after losing my nan, with whom I lived as a teenager. As a fellow 'nan kid', reading Bryon's love for their grandmother – or 'Mommar' - felt almost therapeutic and cathartic as I wrestled with my grief. A close relationship with a grandparent, of course, isn't something that's exclusively working-class, but in What It Feels Like For a Girl, Lees manages to perfectly summarise just what it feels like to grow up with perhaps a little less money than others but more love from a grandparent than the rich will ever know of. A TV series inspired by a book from a well-known public figure that has sold millions of copies across the world shouldn't be seen as such a radical act - it wasn't when Richard Osman landed a Netflix deal to adapt his twee 'cosy' crime waffle - but here we are. I'm loath to praise the BBC for commissioning this series - because it shouldn't be such a rarity to see trans authors get TV adaptations - but it is refreshing to see the public service broadcaster actually follow its Royal Charter and provide quality, diverse, and informative content to licence fee payers. What It Feels Like For A Girl will likely be a stand alone series, given the fact it's based on Lees' memoir, but hopefully 'sequels' will come in the form of new, fresh stories from other LGBTQ+ writers finding their way onto iPlayer.
Graziadaily
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Is New BBC Drama 'What It Feels Like For A Girl' Worth Watching? Reviews Are In
New to the BBC, What It Feels Like For A Girl is the new drama taking audiences on a deep dive back to the noughties – millennials stand up! The coming-of-age show, based on the memoir of Paris Lees, explores themes of class, gender, self-discovery and identity. Paris is a journalist, presenter, author and campaigner, described by ID Magazine as 'a voice of a generation' becoming Vogue's first transgender columnist in 2018. Released in 2021, Paris' memoir pulls readers into her world, growing up in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, uncovering her British trans experiencing growing up in living a life she didn't want to, as a boy called Byron (the fictional name she uses to talk about her pre-transition self). Now, her story has been brought to screen. With Paris as executive producer the 8 part series, What It Feels Like For A Girl follows 15 year old Byron, aged 15, caught between the homes of his mum, dad and gran, finding 'freedom' in Nottingham's underground club scene. The series doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of navigating the world that shaper her, telling a raw story that is love overdue, and already it's pulling in amazing reviews from critics. Ellis Howard plays Byron in the show, a teenager at school who is pulled between different homes while struggling with his own identity. The role was inspired by the life of Paris Lees, the author and campaigner who was the first trans woman to present shows on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4. Speaking about the role, Howard said: 'Byron is at school, without much of a support system, bouncing between their mum's, dad's and Mommar Joe's homes with a desperate internal desire to escape,' continuing 'It's the story of someone who has grown up in a small town with people who aren't like them, dreaming of a life bigger and bolder.' Howard has had roles in the TV series Red Rose (2022) and the film Romeo & Juliet (2021). Laquarn Lewis takes on the role of Lady Die, a podium dancer in the nightclubs of Nottingham. 'Lady Die is eye-catching, fashionable and super stylish,' Lewis says of her character. 'She's over-caring, loving, fun, wild and crazy. I could relate to her, as she has a loving nature. She's someone everyone would want as a friend, and that's what I love about her.' Lewis previously played Elliott in the television series Jamie Johnson. Laura Haddock plays Lisa, Byron's mum who is struggling with her relationship with her son. 'Lisa is Byron's mother, and [with] Byron secretly struggling with their sexuality and gender identity, [their] relationship isn't what it was,' says Haddock. 'She also feels like she's done the hard bit bringing them up and she deserves to have a life now. Their relationship is really strained; she is struggling to understand Byron and accept who they want to be.' You might recognise Haddock from her starring roles in films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, The Laureate and Downton Abbey: A New Era. She has also had starring roles in Da Vinci's Demons, White Lines and The Recruit. Bryon's father Steve is played by Michael Socha, a working class man known locally as 'Hucknall's most feared man.' 'He struggles to accept Byron's femininity and is determined to toughen them up, which can come across as aggressive and even violent at times,' said Socha speaking about his character. 'His frustration stems from Byron not fitting the traditional idea of masculinity, and this manifests in harsh demands for Byron to "man up."' Jake Dunn plays Liam, a 'bad-boy' figure who Byron is drawn in by. 'Liam's a complicated, intense character,' says Dunn. 'While we share some similarities, like being from Nottingham and being in our early twenties, he's completely different from me. He's a gangster who is involved in some dark stuff.' Jake has also had roles in Renegade Nell and Get Even. Hannah Jones plays trans girl Sasha, who is part of the Fallen Divas who take Byron in. Speaking about her role, Hannah explained Sasha is a 'proud scouse' who is 'volatile and aggressive' at times. 'I just think she's a great person, as much as she is a terrible person. There's so much underlying love and misunderstanding of her personality, and she goes through so much trauma and strife in her life,' Jones said. Alex Thomas-Smith plays Sticky Nikki, who is a slightly older member of the Fallen Divas. 'Sticky Nikki is a passionate and headstrong woman who deeply values her friends, relationships and life' says Thomas-Smith when speaking about her role. 'She's a little older than the other girls, which allows her to look at their more-outrageous behaviour with a sense of understanding. Her role is about supporting the others, encouraging them to have fun, but also imparting some of the lessons she's learnt along the way.' You might recognise Alex from her roles in Dixi and The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury. Ali plays Dirty Damian, a 'party instigator' who is always there for the Fallen Divas. 'The girls are protective of each other, and I feel like Damian and Sticky Nikki are the good ones. They are a bit more behaved and sensible. They've got work in the morning when the party is coming to an end,' Ali said. 'They know it's time to go home, and the other three are more party-oriented. The Fallen Divas are also a very tight-knit family, and they're there for each other when things get hard.' Ali is best known as Kai Shariff in Waterloo Road. Despite only being out for two days, the show has gone down a storm with critics. The Guardian gave the show four stars, writing that the show is a 'memorably complex psychological portrait will be your reward.' The Telegraph gave the show four stars, describing the show as 'snappy, addictive, often shocking.' The Independent also settled on four stars for the show. Critic Nick Hilton wrote '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,' adding '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.' Meanwhile, the show is getting rave reviews on social media. One user wrote on X 'Watched the first episode of What It Feels Like For A Girl last night and if it were any closer to my own experiences it would be autobiographical. Incredible, crucial television.' Another simply penned 'Finished watching the Paris Lees' What It Feels Like For a Girl series. It was beautiful, start to end.' A third praised the show's nostalgic element, writing 'I loved the first 2 episodes of the new #LGBTQ series #WhatItFeelsLikeForAGirl and I can't wait to see how the story develops. I also loved the 00s soundtrack and those Bacardi Breezers because that was my drink of choice back then.' The good news is that What It Feels Like For A Girl is available to watch on iPlayer right now! It landed on the platform on Tuesday 3 June, with all eight episodes available. The show will also air weekly double bills starting at 9pm on Tuesday, June 3 on BBC Three.
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meet What It Feels Like For A Girl creator as BBC trans drama is praised by fans
BBC's What It Feels Like For A Girl has been praised by critics for being bold and unapologetic, but who is the LGBTQ+ activist and writer behind it, and where can you watch more episodes BBC's new show What It Feels Like For A Girl has just landed ready for London's Pride - but who is the writer who's memoir it's based on? The memoir-turned-TV-show is a 'coming of age' eight-part series set in Nottingham in the early 2000's which dives into the universal feeling of 'being stuck' as a young person growing up in a small unchanged town. The show follows trans teenager Byron, played by breakout star Ellis Howard, who lives in a suffocating home with an abusive father. Finding solace with a group called The Fallen Divas, he is eventually led into exploitative sex work. Following shocking events, Byron, assigned male at birth, transitions into a woman. RadioTimes reported creator Paris Lee asking: "Who can't identify with that feeling of being stuck when you are younger, trying to figure things out?". The author decided "it was important to show the journey of Byron, owning their sexuality and trying to discover their sexuality whilst figuring out their gender." . Unapologetically, the working-class experience appears integral to Lee's adaption, where she said: "This is a working-class story. This isn't a cosy middle-class drama. There are plenty of those on television, this offers something different". Who is Paris Lees? An accomplished presenter and journalist, Paris Lees, 38, is the author behind the 2021 memoir What It Feels Like for a Girl, now a series adaption on exploring gender identity, sexuality, class and relationships. Widely published, Lees has written for Vogue, Gay Times, PinkNews, Diva, and Vice, to name a few. Notably, the LGBTQ+ activist founded META, Britain's first magazine focused on the trans community, and became the first trans woman to present on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4, and the first openly transgender panellist on Question Time. Lees - from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire - produced insightful documentaries The Hate Debate and My Transgender Punk Rock Story, exploring trans experience. Who is Ellis Howard? Ellis Howard is a 28-year-old Liverpudlian who plays Byron in What It Feels Like For A Girl. With dreams of his name "to be uttered anywhere near Jodie Comer or Stephen Graham," the actor is on his way up as Lee's lead in BBC's newest and more 'out-there than usual' show. After a five-stage audition, Howard became the perfect choice to present the experience of being working class, queer, and transitioning later in life. Speaking to The Standard, he said: "It doesn't feel like a BBC show. It feels very dangerous in its proposition. It's a valiant cry from a council estate. It's unashamed, and unrelenting. I thought, 'Whoa. I can't believe they're making this. I just have to be involved in any way, shape or form.'" Where can you watch What It Feels Like For A Girl All episodes of What It Feels Like To Be A Girl are available on BBC iPlayer, as the first two episodes already broadcasted on BBC Three and BBC One. The third instalment will air on June 10 at 9pm on BBC Three.
Elle
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
‘What It Feels Like For A Girl': Meet The Cast And Characters Of BBC's 'Visceral, Wild' New Drama
Since its resurgence, the Y2k wave has shown no signs of slowing down, be it in fashion and culture, and such is the case in BBC Three's latest drama, What It Feels Like For A Girl. The show is set in the early 2000s in Nottinghamshire, through the eyes of teenage Byron who is beginning to grapple with his sense of identity and sexuality in a small regressive town that doesn't seem to accept nor tolerate him. Byron yearns for life beyond what he knows. His journey of self-discovery and eventual transition into a woman begins when he becomes a part of 'The Fallen Divas', a queer group of teens who riotously and often dangerously, together, begin to come into their own through a series of alcohol and drug-fuelled escapades. Based on Paris Lees' coming-of-age memoir of the same title, the series has already been heralded as one of this year's leading drama - a title which is largely in part due to the series' cast ensemble. From breakout actors Ellis Howard, Laquarn Lewis and Hannah Jones to the more seasoned, including Michael Socha, we break down all there is to know about the cast and characters of What It Feels Like For A Girl. FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE Who is Byron? The series' protagonist - a teenager living in a small town where no one seems to understand their gender expression and identity. That is until he meets the Fallen Divas, a queer group of friends who, together, are able to grow into their identities. Who is Ellis Howard? A breakout actor, Howard has previously starred in Red Rose, Romeo & Juliet and Catherine The Great Who is Lady Die? Big on fashion and style, Lady Die is one of the central members of the group, similar to Byron, she is very much ready for all things fun and wild. Who is Laquarn Lewis? An actor from Nottingham, Laquarn is best known for starring in the TV series Jamie Johnson. Who is Sasha? Another member of the group, Sasha can often come across as brash and aggressive, but is quite sensitive and caring, especially when it comes to her friends. Who is Hannah Jones? She is an actor, who made their debut on screen role in What It Feels Like For A Girl. Who is Dirty Damian? A member of The Fallen Divas, and similar to Sticky Nikki, he is one of the more well-behaved members of the group. Who is Adam Ali? He is an actor and director who is best known for appearing in Waterloo Road and Europa. Who is Sticky Nikki? She is slightly older than the girls, meaning she often approaches their wild behaviour with a sense of empathy, understanding and support. Who is Alex Thomas-Smith? They are a singer, dancer and actor who has appeared in a number of on stage and screen projects including The Cereal Café at The Other Palace, Bat Out of Hell and The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury. Who is Steve? He is Byron's father, who is dissaproving of their femininity and lifestyle, causing the pair to have a strained relationship. Who is Michael Socha? A seasoned actor, Socha has starred in the likes of Summer, This Is England, Being Human and Once Upon In Wonderland. Who is Lisa? She is Byron's mother, who has tried her best to raise Byron in the way she best believes, but often falls short of understanding and accepting his gender and sexuality. Who is Laura Haddock? She is an actor best known for appearing in White Lines, Guardians Of The Galaxy and Transformers: The Last Knight.
Buzz Feed
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
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:
