A Kind of Spark (TV series)

A Kind of Spark is an Irish-British-American-Canadian children's television series created by Anna McCleery, based on the novel by Elle McNicoll. It is produced by Canadian-based 9 Story Media Group co produced with Irish-based Brown Bag Films in association with Scotland-based LS Productions and American tv channel BYU TV for the CBBC. The series follows Addie, a young autistic girl who wants a memorial in her village for the witches who were persecuted there.

A Kind of Spark
GenreFantasy
Children's television series
Created byAnna McCleery
Based onA Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Starring
  • Lola Blue
  • Georgia De Gidlow
  • Caitlin Hamilton
  • Eve Midgley
  • Hattie Gotobed
ComposerJessica Dannheisser
Country of origin
United Kingdom
  • Ireland
  • United States
  • Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producersAnna McCleery
Gráinne McNamara
Andra Johnson Duke
Jeff Simpson
ProducersPaul Munn
Kim Powers
Running time25 minutes
Production companies9 Story Media Group
Brown Bag Films
LS Productions
Original release
Network
Release31 March 2023 (2023-03-31) –
present

It first premiered on 31 March 2023 on BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, followed by a network premiere on CBBC and BYU TV.[1] It has also been distributed for streaming on ABC iview (Australia), CBC Gem (Canada), France Télévisions (France), NPO Start (Netherlands), TRTE (Ireland), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), TVNZ+ (New Zealand).

In October 2023, it was announced that the series has been commissioned for a second season.[2] On World Autism Awareness Day 2024, it was confirmed that the 2nd season would premiere on 26 April 2024 in the United Kingdom, and 28 April 2024 in the United States.[3][4]

Cast

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  • Lola Blue as Adeline "Addie" Darrow
  • Georgia de Gidlow as Keedie Darrow
  • Caitlin Hamilton as Nina Darrow
  • Eve Midgley as Audrey Gladstone
  • Evie Elgie as Jenna
  • Grace Wood as Emily Parks
  • Daisy Whitehead as Heather
  • Zac Looker as Frank
  • Hattie Gotobed as Margaret "Maggie" Fraser (season 1)
  • Ella Maisy Purvis as Elinor Fraser (season 1) / Bonnie Bridges (season 2)
  • Emma Tracey as Beth (season 1)
  • Emily Matsa as Sarah (season 1)
  • Bridget Marumo as Robin (season 1) / Dorothy Dangerfield (season 2)
  • Forrest Bothwell as Jude (season 2)
  • Conor Cupples as Finn (season 2)
  • Zahra Browne as Bess Darrow
  • Geoffrey Austin Newland as James Darrow
  • Natasha Alderslade as Martha Bridges (season 2)
  • Andrew Steele as Tom Bridges (season 2)
  • Rosalyn Wright as Iona Gladstone
  • Julia Haworth as Pamela Parks
  • Kate Layden (season 1) / Carol Moore (season 2) as Miriam Jensen
  • Sandra Cole as Mrs. Ross
  • Andrew Readman as Mr. Laird
  • John Draycott as Mr. MacIntosh
  • Amy Marston as Miss Murphy (season 1)
  • James McClelland as Mr Allison (season 1)
  • Ben Willbond as Adam Quinn (season 1)
  • Simon Pickering as Garreth (season 1)

Production

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The series was filmed in Knutsford, Cheshire. The series features several actors who are neurodivergent, as is also the case for a large portion of the production team.[5]

Episodes

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Series 1 (2023)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Spark"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery and Elle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
2"Juniper"Marek LoseyElle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
3"The Witch List"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
4"Sisters"Marek LoseyVicki Lutas31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
5"Party"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery and Vicki Lutas31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
6"Nicest Village"Matt HoltAnna McCleery31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
7"Sleepover"Matt HoltKarissa Hamilton-Bannis31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
8"Something Wicked"Matt HoltVicki Lutas31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
9"Burnout"Matt HoltElle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)
10"The Way I Am"Matt HoltAnna McCleery and Elle McNicoll31 March 2023 (2023-03-31)

Series 2 (2024)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"What Next?"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery and Elle McNicoll26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
2"Bonnie"Marek LoseyElle McNicoll26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
3"Le Tour de Frank"Marek LoseyAnna McCleery26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
4"Shark Day"Marek LoseyVicki Lutas26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
5"Choices"Marek LoseyVicki Lutas and Anna McCleery26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
6"The Codebreakers"Matt HoltScott Payne26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
7"Miriam"Matt HoltKarissa Hamilton-Bannis26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
8"Juniper at War"Matt HoltAnna McCleery26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
9"Runaway"Matt HoltElle McNicoll26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
10"Safe"Matt HoltAnna McCleery and Elle McNicoll26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)

Reception

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The series has received critical acclaim.[6] In an article for The Guardian, disability activist and writer Cathy Reay praised the production's commitment to platforming disabled talent in a children's series.[7]

Accolades

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In 2023, the series was nominated for a Rose d'Or in the Children and Youth category.[8] In the 2nd annual Children's and Family Emmy Awards, the series was nominated in the Outstanding Casting category.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "A Kind of Spark author Elle McNicoll - "It's a story of sisterhood, neurodiversity and standing firm in the face of a mob"". BBC Media Centre (Press release). 13 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. ^ "A Kind of Spark Renewed". 15 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Elle McNicoll ✍🏻📚 on X: "Happy World Autism Day indeed!! Season 2 trailer of AKOS is on my IG, air dates are the 26th of April (UK) on iPlayer and 28th (US)".
  4. ^ "A Kind of Spark Series 2 - Trailer - CBBC - YouTube". YouTube. 2 April 2024.
  5. ^ "A Kind of Spark to premiere on BBC iPlayer, CBBC, BYUtv and CBC!". 9story.com. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ^ Mato, Megan A. (19 March 2024). "Scottish muse: We speak to 13 authors about their favorite writing spot". Scottish Field. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  7. ^ Reay, Cathy (11 April 2023). "'There's no part we can't do. That's so empowering': the CBBC drama revolutionising onscreen autism". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Rose d'Or 2023 Nominees Announced – Rose d'Or Awards".
  9. ^ https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CAFE-nominations-2023-v02.pdf
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