BBC's private school comedy returns next month

Alan Cumming and Natalie Cassidy  have joined the cast of BBC comedy Boarders.

The show, about five talented black inner-city teens in the posh boarding school of St. Gilbert’s, returns to BBC Three and iPlayer next month for six 45-minute episodes.

Former EastEnders star Cassidy will play Sharon Hail, a teacher at a rival school. She said: ‘I loved series one of Boarders and was so thrilled to be asked to appear in series two. There is such talent amongst all the cast and crew and I loved playing a very eccentric teacher.’

Cumming – host of the US version of The Traitors – will play Alan, a man with very high standards for both the party he’s hosting and the St Gilbert’s students who find themselves there.

He said: ‘I've always said that letting people know you are a fan of theirs is a good idea. And, so it was with Boarders. I mentioned this to the producers (who also happen to produce The Traitors), and very soon after, I found myself on the set having such a fun time!’

The show  was created by Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who also co-stars as Gus. He said: ‘Welcoming the fantastic Alan Cumming and Natalie Cassidy to St. Gilbert's was an absolute pleasure and they were a joy to work with. I can’t wait for viewers to see what they got up to on campus.’

And Madeleine Sinclair, of programme-makers Studio Lambert, added: ‘To have the calibre of actors in Natalie and Alan to join Boarders this season is testament to Daniel’s writing and the success of the show.’

Boarders also streams on Tubi in the US.

Created by: Daniel Lawrence Taylor
Writers: Daniel Lawrence Taylor,  Yemi Oyefuwa, Jeffrey Aidoo and Racheal Ofori 
Directed by: Joelle Mae David and Sarmad Masud
Producer: Ali MacPhail
Line producer: Carleen Beadle-Larcombe
Musical director: Mykaell Riley 
Executive producers: Daniel Lawrence Taylor, Madeleine Sinclair,  Nawfal Faizullah and Katherine Bond

Published: 8 Jan 2025