Laura Fraser and Kevin McKidd cast in BBC drama The Young Team

Synchronicity Films, the company behind The Tattooist of Auschwitz, has begun filming a new drama in Scotland.

The Young Team, a 6-part series, is based on Graeme Armstrong’s award-winning novel.

Paul McGuigan, whose credits include Gangster No.1, Lucky Number Slevin, The Interrogator and Sherlock, is directing. The cast is led by Laura Fraser, known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and Kevin McKidd of Grey’s Anatomy.

The story follows 15 year old Alan ‘Azzy’ Williams, played by Jakob James Smith (MobLand). He and his friends spend Friday nights roaming the streets of Aidrie.

“Ready to smoke, pop pills, drink wine and fight”, Azzy wants nothing more than full membership of ‘The YTP’, the local gang. His determination leads to a brutal gang conflict.

Smith said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be playing Azzy. He’s such a complex character and there’s so much in his story about friendship, belonging and trying to find your place.

“Getting to film in North Lanarkshire, where the story is rooted, makes it feel even more special. I can’t wait for people to meet Azzy and the rest of the Young Team.”

Open casting

Other young cast members include Connor Newall (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Mint) and Scot Greenan (Half Man, The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, T2 Trainspotting), plus a group of newcomers found through open casting in North Lanarkshire.

McKidd plays Azzy’s headteacher and Fraser plays his mother.

Graeme Armstrong, creator and writer, said: “The casting process by Synchronicity Films and Des Hamilton has been incredible to see coming alive.

“With both authenticity of language and a real sense of place at the forefront, they’ve built an amazingly talented group of young Scottish actors who, working with director Paul McGuigan on his homecoming project, will deliver something really special.”

McGuigan, who is also executive producer, said: “The Young Team has brought me back to direct in Scotland for the first time in 30 years and I can’t think of a more fitting way to mark my professional homecoming. It’s a privilege to work with our Young Team cast, an exciting new generation of working-class talent selected from an open audition process that saw over 1,000 young people apply. I cannot wait to see our Young Team characters come to life, as we bring Graeme’s iconic novel to the screen.”

BBC commission

The BBC drama is set and being filmed in North Lanarkshire. The commissioners were Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, and Louise Thornton, BBC Scotland’s head of commissioning.

Armstrong created the series and co-wrote it with Gillian Roger Park, who wrote episodes 2 and 4, and Robert Florence, who wrote episode 5.

Claire Mundell, who is founder and creative director of Synchronicity Films and an executive producer on the series, said: “Graeme’s extraordinary novel is raw, fearless and full of heart and we’re incredibly proud to be bringing this unapologetically Scottish story to the screen.

“Seeing such an exciting new generation of Scottish talent emerge alongside established names, and with Paul McGuigan at the helm, is so special. Together with our partners at the BBC and BBC Scotland, Fox Entertainment Global and the invaluable support of Screen Scotland, we’re excited to bring this story to life with the authenticity it deserves.”

Screen Scotland is providing development and production support. FOX Entertainment Global is a partner on the production and will distribute it worldwide.