Gay Adoption Drama 'Lost Boys & Fairies' Coming to the BBC In 2024
Sion Daniel Young and Fra Fee in "Lost Boys & Fairies"
(Photo: BBC)
Despite the fact that a loud minority keeps complaining about it, the BBC is greenlighting a more diverse programming slate than ever before, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ series. From dramas and reality shows to factual programs and even Doctor Who episodes, there are more ways than ever to watch stories about the queer experience onscreen. And one of the most intriguing queer dramas headed our way in 2024 is Lost Boys & Fairies, a four-part series that follows a gay couple's journey to adoption, and deals with heartrending and hilarious moments in turn.
Set in Wales, the series follows the story of Gabriel, a singer and artiste-extraordinaire at a Cardiff queer club called Neverland who, along with his partner Andy, is attempting to adopt 7-year-old Jake. Described as a "glittering" and "tender" queer story, Lost Boys & Fairies will follow the couple on a journey of self-discovery as they try to prepare themselves to become parents.
Created and written by Daf James, the stars Sion Daniel Young (Slow Horses) and Fra Fee (Hawkeye) in the lead roles, and will see Gabriel grapple with both the memories of his difficult childhood and his current rocky relationship with his dad, something he feels he needs to repair before he has any chance of becoming a decent father himself.
"It means the world to me that this queer, Welsh, adoption story has found its home on BBC One," James said in a statement. "It’s a story I’m deeply passionate about and I can’t overstate how indebted I am to Duck Soup Films and the BBC for empowering me to tell it authentically and without compromise.
Sion Daniel Young and Fra Fee in 'Lost Boys & Fairies'
BBC/BritBox
James developed the series with Duck Soup Films as part of the BBC's Writersroom program in 2019, which offers emerging screenwriters the opportunity to write the first episode of a new original series or serial in partnership with an indie. Lost Boys & Fairies was commissioned as part of the corporation's Small Indie Fund which supports the growth of small independent production companies.
The series' ensemble cast also includes Elizabeth Berrington (The Pact), Sharon D. Clarke (Doctor Who), Maria Doyle Kennedy (Kin), Arwel Gruffydd (Tess of the D’Urbervilles), Shaheen Jafargholi (Casualty), Mali Ann Rees (Keeping Faith), William Thomas (Torchwood), Gwyneth Keyworth (Alex Rider), Gwawr Loader (Hidden), and more.
"Born out of the truths of his own experience Lost Boys and Fairies possesses a unique and distinct emotional power," said Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales."Daf is fast becoming one of Wales' most distinctive voices and BBC Cymru Wales is very happy to back his important and timely series.”
Marie Doyle Kennedy in "Lost Boys & Fairies"
(Photo: BBC)
Lost Boys & Fairies is created and written by James and directed by James Kent (The Capture). The executive producers are Rebekah Wray-Rogers, Libby Durdy, Jessica Brown Meek, Sophie Francis, James, and Kent for Duck Soup Films, with Jo McClellan for the BBC and Nick Andrews for BBC Cymru Wales. It will be distributed by All3Media International.
“Lost Boys and Fairies is the most beautiful love story I've read," Kent said in a statement when the series was announced. "Daf's scripts are heart-wrenching, very funny and powerful advocates for the right of gay men and women to parent a child. They left me in floods of tears and as a gay director I'm so excited and honoured to be bringing this story to the general public.”
The series does not yet have an American distributor, but it's expected to be released on both the BBC and BBC iPlayer this year.
