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BBC’s raw drama 'What It Feels Like for a Girl' premieres to acclaim after UK Supreme Court transgender ruling

Based on Paris Lees’s memoir, the eight-part series follows a 15-year-old trans teen in early-2000s Nottingham during the UK’s debate over biological sex definitions.

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Ellis Howard as Byron in What It Feels Like For A Girl. (BBC)
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Overview

  • The drama premiered on BBC iPlayer on June 3, with all episodes available immediately and repeat broadcasts scheduled on BBC Three and BBC One.
  • Paris Lees wrote and executive produced the adaptation of her memoir to ensure an authentic portrayal of transgender experiences.
  • Ellis Howard’s performance as Byron portrays a 15-year-old navigating gender discovery and economic hardship in early-2000s Nottingham.
  • Reviewers have praised the show’s visceral tone and dark humor and lauded its raw depiction of LGBTQ+ community bonds and marginalisation.
  • Gender-critical campaigners, including Sex Matters, have condemned the title after the UK Supreme Court ruled that ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act refer to biological definitions.