Tag: Northern Child

Northern Child’s latest commission starring Jordan North to air Wednesday 20th March

Posted on 20 March 202420 March 2024 by North East Screen

Jordan North: The Truth About Vaping, a production from Newcastle based production company Northern Child, will air on BBC Three at 9pm on Wednesday the 20th of March.

As the UK Government moves to ban disposable vapes, Jordan North sets out to uncover the truth about vaping, and decide if it’s time he packed it in.

Along his journey, Jordan meets young vapers similarly confused about the impact of vaping on their health. He visits his old university in Sunderland to find out how vapes work, joins Newcastle Trading Standards as they conduct raids on shops selling illegal vapes, and heads to Manchester to meet the scientist behind one of the first long term studies into the impact of vapes on our cardiovascular system.

The documentary will be repeated on Monday 25th March, 8:30pm on BBC One.

Jordan North will also be on The One Show on Wednesday to promote the documentary.

This is another fantastic commissioning win from Northern Child who, since opening their base in the region two years ago, have gone from strength to strength. Northern Child is the sister company to Middle Child who have been creating content for all the major British broadcasters as well as global platform for fifteen years.

Middlechild also have recently delivered The Tube:Keep London Moving! to Channel 5 which airs Sunday 24^th March at 8pm. Though this was made under the Brighton based Middlechild, the four-part series was fully produced by our very own Katie Elliot – a North East Producer at Northern Child.

Watch the trailer below

BBC commission new documentary from Newcastle-based indie Northern Child starring Jordan North

Posted on 5 December 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

North East indie, Northern Child has won a BBC Three commission for a documentary to be filmed in Newcastle, featuring BBC Radio 1 presenter Jordan North.

What’s Really in Your Vape? (w/t) will see Jordan North front his first documentary as he explores the truth behind the UK’s vaping phenomenon.

The number of young people vaping has skyrocketed in recent years. Annual sales in the UK are now worth more than £1.3 billion.

But do we really know what’s inside these vapes? What are they made of, how are they made, and where? What chemicals go into the liquid? How much nicotine’s really in them? Which ones are sold legally, which ones aren’t?

As someone who uses vapes himself, Jordan North seeks answers to all of these questions. As well as meeting scientists performing cutting edge testing on vapes, and researchers looking at the possible long term effects of vaping, Jordan investigates the problem with illegal vapes in the UK. How big is the market? Where are they coming from? Who’s selling them? And just how dangerous might they be?

Jordan North says: “I’m really excited to be back on BBC Three, I’ve always wanted to make a documentary and I’m really interested in this subject, as a vaper myself I’m desperate to know what’s inside my vape!”

Andrew Eastel, Executive Producer says: “Vaping has become incredibly popular in the UK. Not just with those trying to quit smoking, and especially amongst younger people. So, it’s more important than ever for us to have a better understanding of what’s actually inside a vape; how they are made and where they come from, the types or brands of vapes that may pose a risk, and whether there could be longer term implications for the health of people who vape? Jordan is the ideal person to help us answer these questions. He’s naturally inquisitive and open-minded – without being preachy – and as someone who vapes himself, he has a vested interest in getting to the truth.”

Nasfim Haque, Head of Content of BBC Three says: “Jordan is the perfect guide for this fascinating and insightful new documentary as he takes a deep dive into the rapidly expanding phenomenon of vaping and showcases his findings to viewers on BBC Three and iPlayer.”

What’s Really in Your Vape? will be broadcast on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in early 2024.

What’s Really in Your Vape? (1 x 30) is a Northern Child Production for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer produced from Newcastle. The Executive Producer is Andrew Eastel, the Producer is Katie Elliott and the programme will be Directed by Simon Rawles. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Mark Harrison for Current Affairs.

The BBC and Middlechild Productions bring career workshops to Sunderland and Hartlepool Colleges

Posted on 18 May 202318 May 2023 by North East Screen

BBC Academy and Middlechild Productions visited two colleges in the North East today, bringing an interactive Q&A workshop for students looking to start a career in factual filmmaking and production.

The visit was to celebrate the launch of BBC Three’s Therapy: Tough Talking documentary, which features North East actor and rapper Kema Sikazwe (aka Kema Kay). The film follows Kema’s journey through therapy as he faces his past traumas. Students at Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form got to speak with the producers about job opportunities and gaining experience for a career in television.

Students also pitched their own ideas for factual programmes, inspired by their own lives in the North East, and received feedback from television professionals. A special recorded message from Kema was also played for each college, and his therapist Hayley Tyson- Adams discussed the importance of mental health support and finding help.

This workshop is part of the BBC’s Across the UK Strategy, which seeks to invest more in training and production outside of London to better represent and serve the whole UK. This comes after the BBC announced to commit £25 million to the North East, partnering with companies like Northern Child, Middlechild’s sister company, to increase production and opportunities in the region.

Diana Hare, Commissioning Editor at the BBC, said: “Therapy: Tough Talking is a unique project. Kema’s courage, in allowing cameras in the therapy room, will help demystify and destigmatise the process. We’re grateful that we can continue to foster creativity in the North East by bringing this workshop to local colleges.”

Andrew Eastel, Creative Director at Middlechild, and the director of the documentary, said, “Everyone on the team has felt extremely privileged to have worked on Therapy: Tough Talking. To be granted the unique access to film Kema’s therapy has been both enlightening and fulfilling. By bravely allowing cameras into the room, Kema and Hayley have shone a light on the power of therapy and addressed many of the misconceptions associated with it, especially amongst younger people. We’re delighted to have this opportunity to screen the film to students in Sunderland and Hartlepool. Not just because some of them may relate to the subject of the film, but also to highlight the power of documentary filmmaking, and hopefully inspire some filmmakers of the future.”

Ruth Magnus, Director of Student Services at Education Partnership North East, which includes Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form College, said: “We were pleased to be among the select number of colleges involved in the screening of the Therapy: Tough Talking documentary. Across our colleges, we have a responsibility for the positive mental health of our students.

“Through this experience, we will be able to challenge the misconceptions of mental illness, raise awareness of symptoms and demonstrate compassion.”

Watch Therapy: Tough Taking on BBC iPlayer here.

Northern Child wins BBC Tender and goes inside the therapist room

Posted on 26 April 202326 April 2023 by North East Screen

Northern Child, the North East branch of Brighton based indie Middlechild, has won the tender for a 30-minute documentary issued last year to indies operating in the North East by BBC Three, BBC England, and North East Screen.

The documentary was won by Northern Child following a successful application to the BBC’s NE Voices Scheme.

Using fixed rigged cameras, Therapy: Tough Talking goes inside the therapy sessions of Newcastle based rapper and actor, Kema Kay.

On the surface, Kema is a positive, ambitious, and talented young man who has forged a successful career but beneath it all, he is dealing with a lifetime of trauma. Before and after the death of a close family member when he was younger, Kema’s world was full of turmoil as he adjusted to life as a child from Zambia trying to fit in after his family moved to the UK.

This has all contributed to an ongoing battle with his mental health in adulthood and recently, what Kema describes as, “destructive thoughts”. His doctor suggests these may be signs of depression and advises he tries therapy. He has no idea what to expect, is fearful of what might be uncovered, and unsure whether the courage it takes to start the process will be worth it in the end.

The film reveals the process of therapy, especially confronting, understanding, and processing traumatic experiences, recognising triggers and the coping mechanisms that might lead to a healthier mind in the future, as well as tackling the misconceptions that still exist today.

Andrew Eastel, Creative Director at Middlechild and the director of the film, says: “For Kema to allow us inside his therapy is incredibly brave of him. To see someone go through treatment for their mental health struggles as it happens is an incredible privilege, and one we don’t take lightly. There are a lot of misconceptions about talking therapies, especially amongst younger people, I hope anyone struggling with their mental health might be inspired to consider it themselves after seeing Kema’s journey into that world”.

The film marks the second BBC commission for Northern Child after their series, Northern Justice (10×30’) was commissioned by BBC Daytime last year.

Commissioning Editor for BBC Three, Yasemin Rashit, says: “It’s an extremely personal and immersive film, vital viewing that we hope will benefit audiences across the UK, we are proud to platform such important content. Thank you to Kema who has bravely allowed us to follow his journey, as he confronts his past to help him move forward towards an even brighter future.”

Diana Hare, Commissioner for BBC England, says: “The opportunity to follow someone through therapy in real time is extremely unusual and powerful. As well as being fascinating for audiences it serves an important purpose, raising awareness of options for helping those facing mental health issues.

“We are always on the lookout for great access and new story telling opportunities in England. So, we’re delighted to be working with Northern Child.”

Therapy: Tough Talking was commissioned by Yasemin Rashit for BBC Three, and Tony Parker and Diana Hare for BBC England.