Cannes − Zodiak Kids Studios announced the dual territory commission of The Secret Life of Boys commissioned by CBBC in the UK and ABC3 Australia.

Zodiak Kids Studios, the production arm of Zodiak Kids, has secured a brand new interactive drama commission for its UK division.  The Secret Life of Boys is a series of 25 five minute segments which will be available first on CBBC and ABC3 online, playable on mobile viewing devices and computers, and will also be created as a 5 x 30’ series for the channels. 

The Secret Life of Boys centres on Ginger, an eleven year old girl who has to spend her summer holidays with her English cousins, a family of four tween and teen boys. Ginger is an only child, unused to living with boys, and they are a mystery to her as she is to them.  Across the series they will uncover each other’s unpredictable behaviours and gain a shared understanding of how they can all live together in peace and relative harmony!

During the show there are opportunities for the user to click around and uncover extra punchlines,    character insights and the hidden secrets of Ginger and the boys.  The more the user interacts, the closer they get to uncovering the truth behind Ginger’s UK trip, and just what the boys are really getting up to.                            

The series was created as an original sitcom from Anthony Q Farrell (American Office, Thundermans) and has been co-developed as an interactive comedy by Zodiak Kids and Zodiak Media’s Head of Multiplatform Ben Freeman.  It will be produced by UK production company The Foundation.

It has been commissioned by Cheryl Taylor Controller CBBC in collaboration with Chris Rose Commissioning Editor ABC Children’s Television. The Executive Producer is Steven Andrew, Interactive Producer Trevor Klein and Producer/ Director Beryl Richards.

Steven Andrew, Creative Director of The Foundation said,“The Secret Life of Boys  is an ambitious, funny and genuinely  innovative,  interactive comedy format  that will  bring  mainstream children’s  drama values into the digital space for both BBC and ABC3.”

Sue Nott, Executive Producer CBBC said, “We’re excited to be involved in this fresh, innovative approach to cross platform story-telling and know that our children’s audience will have fun engaging with the characters and comedy on many different levels.”

Chris Rose, Commissioning Editor ABC Children’s Television said, “In a first for ABC, we are delighted to bring Ginger’s comic insight into life with her young male cousins to multiple screens across Australia. This unique drama will unfold to our audience through interactive content and strong story-telling, online and on the ABC3 channel, carefully crafted by some of the best global talent in children’s drama.”

Zodiak Kids own worldwide rights to The Secret Life of Boys.