The One on Jamie Johnson

It's one of the most popular programmes on CBBC - the BBC's dedicated channel for kids aged anywhere between 6 and 16.Jamie Johnson focuses on life for a group of young players hoping to make it into the competitive world of pro-football - and this week, it's been making more waves than usual after one of the main characters came out as gay. It's something that's been tackled before on-screen in grown-up films like The Pass and Mario, but it's the first time a children's television drama has taken a look at a subject like this. And on the podcast this week, we've got two of the key people that helped bring this storyline to life. Patrick Ward plays Dillon - the character the storyline focuses on - while Shaun Duggan is the BAFTA-nominated writer of the programme. They're both brilliant talkers who offer different perspectives on this story. Patrick gives us an actor’s take on receiving the storyline; playing the role convincingly and credibly; and the responsibility he felt to get it right. And Shaun, for his part, looks at the process of coming up with this journey for Dillon’s character; the importance of visibility on-screen for LGBTQ+ characters; and his experiences as a gay writer in the industry. They’re both fantastic talkers, and we really think you’ll like this episode!WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @JamieJohnsonFCWANT TO WATCH THE JAMIE JOHNSON EPISODE? https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000kbsyWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? [email protected] @jack_murley