6Degrees - brand new Northern Ireland drama series
6Degrees is a brand new six-part drama from Stirling Productions for BBC Northern Ireland with funding from Northern Ireland Screen.
Over six half hour episodes, beginning on BBC Two Northern Ireland, Tuesday, February 28 at 9.30pm, the series follows six freshers arriving from throughout the UK and Ireland as they crash through their first term at university.
Descending on Belfast, the lives of Jess (Georgia Maguire), Danny (Niall Wright), Conor (Cillian O'Sullivan), Sandie (Jayne Wisener), Leech (Ryan McParland) and Eva (Jamie Lee O'Donnell), are about to change forever.
In a city with no limits, they're breaking away from everything they've known and are here to make their mark. Hearts will be broken, friendships made and trust betrayed, but within all the madness and mistakes, our students are learning the invaluable life lessons that books just can't teach.
This is a show about relationships - a crash course to adulthood. Six students, brought together by six degrees who are about to become friends for life.
As well as award winning local freelance talent, 6Degrees has also given opportunities to first time local TV writers, Bronagh Taggart, Michael Shannon, Eoin Cleland and Aaron Archer.
Ailsa Orr, BBC Northern Ireland Head of Programmes, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have 6 Degrees as part of our original home grown drama season. It offers a fascinating insight into student life and some of the important themes and issues relevant to young people today.
“It's also a showcase for some brilliant new acting talent, and has offered an important opportunity for local writers and upcoming production talent. We very much hope it will be enjoyed by a whole new generation of BBC Northern Ireland viewers.”
Anne Stirling of Stirling Productions, added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for a local company to show that good drama can be made in and about Northern Ireland ".
6Degrees begins on BBC Two Northern Ireland, Tuesday, February 28 at 9,30pm and will continue from Tuesday, March 06 at 10pm.
The Cast
JESS GREEN, played by GEORGIA MAGUIRE
Studious, straightforward and down to earth, what you see is what you get with Jess Green. Having repeated her A-levels, she’s worked extra-hard to get here and is determined to prove to her parents that she’s not a complete failure. From London, Jess arrives in Belfast with long-term boyfriend, Jack, but with all Belfast has to offer, how will she manage her studies and a long-distance relationship?
CONOR MARTIN, played by CILLIAN O’SULLIVAN (The Running Mate, Single-handed)
Handsome, successful and charming Conor is revered by the lads and adored by the ladies. Leader of the group and captain of the university Gaelic team, this is a young man who’s used to winning; both on and off the field. He’s left his home in Cork for the anonymity of a new city.
DANNY BURNS, played by NIALL WRIGHT (Mickey-Bo and Me)
Loveable film fanatic, Danny Burns is eager to get his teeth into student life. This isn’t just about the letters after his name; it’s Danny’s first taste of freedom and he relishes it. A Belfast lad, he’s a sensitive soul who’s here to make friends and try to forget about his troubled home life. It’s against Danny’s nature, but in order to help his alcoholic mum, he’s going to have to be cruel to be kind.
SANDIE MORROW, played by JAYNE WISENER (Sweeney Todd, Inbetweeners)
Hailing from the Causeway Coast, glamour girl Sandie Morrow’s the innocent optimist of the group. An idealist in every way, she believes the best in everyone, but when she falls in with the football lads, Sandie’s naivety comes back to bite her.
CHRISTOPHER LEECH, played by RYAN MCPARLAND (Good Vibrations)
Delusional and sex-obsessed, Chris Leech is a complete liability. Arriving into Belfast, from Portadown, he’s a closet IT geek who’s determined to fit in with the crowd. As the gang’s about to find out, joker Leech leaves a trail of destruction wherever he goes.
EVA MAGUIRE, introducing JAMIE LEE O’DONNELL
Derry girl Eva’s confident, spontaneous, opinionated and hedonistic. She’s so busy running from one adventure to the next, her tendency to never look before she leaps causes havoc with the lives of her friends. Life with Eva’s never dull, but she’s going to have to face up to a trauma of her past before things seriously spiral out of control.
This core cast is supported by Andrea Irvine (Five Minutes of Heaven, The Clinic) playing Danny’s mum, Ben Peel (Hunger, Spooks, United) as Eva’s friend Justin, introducing Lauren Ellis Steele playing Leech’s girlfriend and Peter Campion (Love/Hate, Raw) playing Ronan McCann, Conor’s cousin from Dublin.