Light up the sparklers… it’s time to celebrate! We are thrilled to share that our live-action series, A Kind of Spark, has won Best Children’s Programme the 2024 Broadcast Awards. Based on the award-winning book by neurodivergent children’s author Elle McNicoll, A Kind of Spark was nominated for the prestigious category in November 2023, alongside several other standout programmes, including I Am Your Mother (Star Wars: Visions Volume 2), Aardman for Disney+, Lloyd of the Flies, Aardman for CITV, Newsround Special: Ukraine – The Children’s Story, BBC for BBC, Operation Ouch! Let’s Talk About Cancer, Maverick TV for CBBC, The Rubbish World of Dave Spud, Illuminated Films for CITV.
The annual Broadcast Awards celebrate the best in British TV channels and content and are a chance to reward and recognise the best programmes, channels and talent within the UK’s television industry. This year’s nominees and winners were honoured at the Broadcast Awards ceremony on Thursday 8 February at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane. Accepting the award for Best Children’s Programme on behalf of the series, was A Kind of Spark Author Elle McNicoll and Executive Producer for the BBC Amy Buscombe. The award show judges praised the series for:
“Through strong performances and high production values, this series showcases neurodiversity in an organic and engaging way, without it being the sole focus.”
~via Broadcast Awards
A Kind of Spark is powerful and heart-warming story about friendship, courage and self-belief. The series interweaves the past and present in ten action packed episodes full of the joys of friendship, sisterhood, the drama of growing up, mystery and magic.
A Kind of Spark takes place in the small village of Juniper where teenager, Addie, a bright and sparky autistic girl, dreams of acceptance in a conservative community. Addie’s desire to be herself and protect her sister from prejudice becomes entwined with a historical mystery of Maggie and Elinor, two sisters in the 16th century. Maggie was accused of witchcraft and mysteriously vanished before she could be brought to trial while Elinor is struggling with her true self. As Addie tries to figure out what happens to Maggie, she discovers an even more surprising connection to Elinor. Can Addie challenge how the people live-action see her and her autism and make her voice heard?
Filmed in Knutsford, Manchester, and produced by 9 Story Media Group, A Kind of Spark has authentic representation throughout its production with the three lead characters of Addie, Keedie and Nina played by neurodivergent actors, along with approximately 50% of the cast and crew also being neurodivergent. The series also secured a season 2 greenlight from BBC and BYUtv, which began filming this September 2023, in Northern Ireland.
A Kind of Spark is created for television by Anna McCleery (Free Rein, Secret Life of Boys) and produced by 9 Story Media Group. Lead writers are Anna McCleery and Elle McNicoll (A Kind of Spark, Show Us Who You Are) with Karissa Hamilton-Bannis and Vicki Lutas. It is executive produced for 9 Story by Gráinne McNamara.
Congratulations to our entire exceptional A Kind of Spark team! This award win is a testament to the dedication, talent, and hard work of our incredible partners, talent, creatives and crew. Each member of this remarkable community has played a vital role in bringing Elle McNicoll’s incredible vision to life. A well-deserved recognition all around.
See the full list of winners here on the Broadcast Awards website and via the digital Winners’ Brochure here.
Watch A Kind of Spark BBC iPlayer, Cbeebies in the UK, on BYUtv in the US and on CBC Gem in Canada.
✨Click here to watch the trailer now.✨
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