The BBC will adapt BAFTA winner Adam Kay’s children’s novel Dexter Procter: The 10-Year-Old Doctor for television.
Young actor Cian Eagle-Service and Peter Serafinowicz (How to Train Your Dragon, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace) will star in the two-part special, the first of which will launch later this year through the BBC Children’s and Education division on BBC iPlayer, CBBC and BBC One.
Kay, best known for the novel on which BBC and AMC medical drama This is Going to Hurt was based, is executive producer alongside James Kay for Terrible Productions, with Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni doing the same for Various Artists Ltd and Amy Buscombe for the BBC. Arabella McGuigan is the producer, Matt Lipsey is the director and Lauren Evans is the casting director. Filming has been taking place in the Wirral, in northwest England.
The show tells the story of Dexter Procter, a 10-year-old paediatrician and the world’s youngest-ever doctor trying to solve – frequently disgusting – medical mysteries, save his job, and find his place in the world. Eagle-Service is making his screen debut in the role. Serafinowicz plays Dr Drake, a jealous colleague who can’t stand the idea of a child working as a doctor and spends every waking second attempting to have Dexter fired.
Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), Mike Wozniak (Taskmaster), Konnie Huq (Blue Peter), Harry Enfield (Harry Enfield and Chums) and Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) are also in the cast, along with Aroop Shergill, Hugo McGinn, Max Lester, Gemma Whelan, Michelle Gomez, Kieran Hodgson, Ashley McGuire, Pippa Haywood, Jake Canuso and Michelle Greenidge.
“I’m so excited to film this semi-autobiographical story about the world’s cleverest child who became a doctor,” said Kay. “The adult cast are a Who’s Who of comedy royalty and our phenomenal child cast are genuinely the comedy royalty of tomorrow.”
Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Commissioning 7+ for BBC Children’s and Education, said: “Parents and kids can put down their separate screens to come together to watch Dexter as he navigates the challenges of being a 10-year-old doctor. There are plenty of famous faces who will bring laugh out loud moments that can be enjoyed across the generations as we bring this drama for the whole family to BBC One later this year.”
Kay’s comedy-drama This is Going to Hurt starred Ben Whishaw and Ambika Mod, and was based on his memoir of the same name. Whishaw landed a Best Actor win at the BAFTA TV Awards for his role, with the series nominated for Best Miniseries.
