What It Feels Like For A Girl joins the ranks of Big Boys and It's A Sin as one of the most pivotal LGBTQ+ dramas of the decade.
At points you’ll be in disbelief that the series is based on a true story, such is the giddy rush of hedonistic wild antics that would leave the Skins generation blushing and the unthinkable low points that the young lead faces.
Set in the early 2000s, the trans coming-of-age story delivers a hefty slice of Y2K nostalgia, with a killer soundtrack of stone-cold classic pop hits.
Here’s all you need to know about the BBC Three drama.
Is it based on a true story?
What It Feels Like For A Girl is based on the memoirs of the same name by author, presenter and activist Paris Lees.
The drama opens with young Byron – a fictionalised version of Paris's younger self – living in a dysfunctional family, and beginning to explore their sexuality.
Though only 15, Byron is soon catapulted into a world of prostitution and drugs. A trip to the heart of Nottingham’s wild nightlife proves transformative for Byron as he encounters a gang of queer misfits who will soon become a second family and call themselves the ‘Fallen Divas’.
What follows is a raw, heartbreaking and hilarious drama that explores both self-discovery and self-destruction.
What It Feels Like For A Girl filming locations
While set in Nottingham, the series was predominantly filmed in South Wales, due to early research in pre-production revealing that much of Nottingham city centre had changed significantly since the early 2000s, when the story takes place.
Hucknall, Nottinghamshire - hometown of creator and lead writer Paris Lees - was still used for several other iconic locations.
The Celtic Manor, Newport
The Celtic Manor, a luxury hotel on the outskirts of Newport, stood in for several locations throughout the series.
It is where Byron and Max jump into the swimming pool in episode one, and in episode four it becomes the setting for a cocktail bar where Byron, Lady Die and Sasha flirt with a group of professional footballers. That particular scene was filmed in one of the Celtic Manor’s real bars – the Mulberry bar – providing the glossy backdrop.
Le Pub, Newport, Wales
The Dog & Hunt, a fictional queer bar that features throughout the series – including the scenes where Byron finds Max in episode two and where the gang go dancing in episode three – was filmed at Le Pub, a cool, quirky music venue in the centre of Newport.
‘Our production designer, Gem Randall, did an incredible job transforming it into a cosy, lived-in gay bar,' say Liza Marshall and Ron O’Berst, the show’s executive producers. ‘Gem’s team created over 100 custom posters for the walls, advertising things like made-up drag queens and club nights – I wish people could see them up close as they’re not only beautifully designed but also gloriously camp!’
The Lace Market, Nottingham
In episode two, Byron walks through Nottingham’s iconic Lace Market, with scenes filmed on location at the very end of the production.
Once the hub of the British Empire’s lace industry, Nottingham’s Lace Market features Victorian warehouses that have been reborn as trendy fashion boutiques, bougie restaurants and nightlife hotspots.
Liberty Steel, Newport, Wales
The Portakabin scenes in episode three were shot on wasteland at an unused steel plant in Newport.
‘It made for an eerie and atmospheric backdrop, and this sense of danger feeds into the tension on screen,’ say producers Marshall and O’Berst.
‘The graffiti seen in the portacabin was created by the brilliant artist Mister Samo, who explores trans identity a lot in his work. He also designed a lot of the artwork for the squat party sets in episode five.’
Circuit and District Nightclubs, Cardiff
The series features a stream of hedonistic nightclub scenes, with two venues in central Cardiff – Circuit and District – standing in for various early-2000s Nottingham clubs.
‘We made use of their different rooms to recreate the nightlife of the time, complete with big crowds of supporting artists in bucket hats and Y2K clubwear,’ says the exec producers
‘Our production design, costume, and hair and make-up teams did an amazing job making it all feel period-specific – we even created our own fictional alcopop brands.’
Newstead Abbey, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire
In episode 2, Byron takes the gang to Newstead Abbey, the former Augustinian priory and the ancestral home of poet Lord Byron, with scenes filmed on location.
‘The character of Byron takes their name from the poet Lord Byron, who plays a recurring role in Paris’ original memoir,’ say Marshall and O’Berst.
‘Lord Byron’s legacy looms large over the East Midlands, and so it felt fitting to shoot at his former home. We also filmed at the Byron statue in Hucknall’s Market Square in episode one, not far from the Abbey itself. These real-life locations helped us root the show in the specific geography and culture of Paris’s hometown.’
Portishead Lido, Somerset
In episode six, Byron’s mum Lisa takes them on holiday to France, but the cast and crew stayed firmly put in the UK. Most of the ‘French’ scenes were shot in Somerset, and while the crew had hoped for sunshine, they ended up filming on ‘some of the gloomiest, windiest days of the summer.’
‘Luckily, we think we got away with it,’ say producer duo Marshall and O’Berst’. ‘The locations, especially Portishead Lido, sell the illusion of a northern French seaside town. The lido itself is a stunning art deco pool painted bright orange and yellow. It’s here that Byron and Lisa have their first encounter with a middle-class family, and later, Byron takes a late-night plunge into the water.’
Who stars in What It Feels Like For A Girl?
‘This is a proudly working-class story, and it needed a cast who could bring it to life authentically,’ says creator Paris Lees. ‘We’ve struck gold with these highly talented actors, some of whom are already familiar faces - and some who are about to be.’
Ellis Howard (Catherine the Great) takes on the lead role of Byron. With Jake Dunn (Renegade Nell) as Liam, Calam Lynch (Bridgerton, Sweetpea) as Max, both of whom become love interests of sorts to young Byron.
For Byron’s new family of queer pals, Laquarn Lewis (Jamie Johnson) stars as Lady Die, newcomer Hannah Jones as Sasha, and Adam Ali (Waterloo Road) as Dirty Damian.
Michael Socha (Toxic Town) and Laura Haddock (Guardians of the Galaxy) as Byron’s estranged parents.
The series also includes cameo appearances from Fay Ripley (Cold Feet) as a TV chat show host, and Selina Mosinski - better known as alter-ego Charity Shop Sue - as a call centre manager.
How can I watch What It Feels Like For A Girl?
The series is available to stream in full now on BBC iPlayer.
What It Feels Like For A Girl will also air on BBC Three with two episodes each Tuesday from 9pm.
Is there a trailer?
There is! Check out the clip below for a taste of what’s to come.