Britannia High
Britannia High is a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television and Globe Productions for the ITV network. The series focused on the lives of a group of teenagers and their mentors at a fictional London theatre school. It aired on ITV and TV3 Ireland, premiering on 26 October 2008. The show starred Sapphire Elia, Georgina Hagen, Mitch Hewer, Rana Roy, Matthew James Thomas and Marcquelle Ward, as well as Adam Garcia as the dance mentor, Lorraine Pilkington as the music mentor and Mark Benton as the school principal and acting mentor. In addition to the main cast, the series featured cameo performances from Girls Aloud, Boyzone, Matt Willis and Gemma Bissix. Also, Aston Merrygold, lead singer of hit boyband JLS, auditioned for the role before his success in the boyband - but only made it to the final 16. George Ure who attended Mountview Academy also auditioned before his success in the Musical Wicked where he played Boq. Pixie Lott also auditioned as did Ed Sheeran and Danielle Peazer. The show featured an original soundtrack which was created by a team of pop producers and writers in the UK, led by Take That member Gary Barlow.
Insights
Plot Summary
Britannia High follows the lives of seven talented teenagers who are accepted into a prestigious performing arts college in Manchester. The series documents their struggles with academics, friendships, rivalries, and romantic relationships as they navigate the intense pressures of the industry. Each episode features original songs and dance routines that reflect the characters' emotions and storylines.
Critical Reception
Britannia High was met with mixed to negative reviews, primarily criticized for its predictable storylines and sometimes weak acting, though its musical numbers and energetic performances were occasionally praised. Audience reception was generally lukewarm, with many finding it too similar to other teen dramas without offering enough originality.
What Reviewers Say
- The show attempted to capture the excitement of a performing arts school but often fell into cliché territory.
- Musical performances were a highlight for some, but the dramatic elements lacked depth.
- Character development was inconsistent, making it hard for viewers to fully invest in their journeys.
Google audience: Information not available.
Fun Fact
The series was intended to be a successor to the popular musical drama Fame, but did not achieve the same level of success or longevity.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources