An original new eight-part horror series which explores the intoxicating relationship between teenagers and their online lives, called Red Rose, is coming to BBC Three – and it’s been filmed in Bolton.
Set in the long hot summer following GCSEs, our heroes’ friendships are infiltrated by the Red Rose app, which blooms on their smartphones, threatening them with dangerous consequences if they don’t meet its demands.
The app exposes the group to a seemingly supernatural entity and the seductive, terrifying power of the dark web.
Red Rose is ultimately a story of friendship, told through the prism of a classic horror-thriller.
The new show has been created by the Clarkson Twins – Michael and Paul (See, The Haunting of Bly Manor) – and produced by the multi-award-winning production company Eleven (Sex Education, Glue, The Enfield Haunting).
The cast of Red Rose includes rising stars Amelia Clarkson (The Last Kingdom, Poldark), Isis Hainsworth (Metal Lords, Catherine Called Birdy), Ali Khan (Halo, The School For Good and Evil) Ellis Howard (Home, Catherine the Great) and Ashna Rabheru (Sex Education, Indian Summers) plus celebrated actors Adam Nagaitis (Chernobyl, The Terror), Natalie Gavin (Ali & Ava, Gentleman Jack) and Samuel Anderson (Landscapers, Doctor Who).
Newcomers making their television debuts are Harry Redding, currently playing Jem Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird in the West End, and Laurence Olivier Bursary winner, Natalie Blair.
“We are thrilled with the talented cast that we’ve assembled in Red Rose,” said creators, Michael and Paul Clarkson.
“They have so brilliantly captured the spirit of the North with their nuanced, devastating and hilarious performances.
“We can’t wait for the rest of the world to fall in love with them, just as we have.
“They’re doing Bolton – and us – proud.”
Nawfal Faizullah, executive producer for the BBC, said: “We are delighted that Michael and Paul’s fantastic scripts have attracted such a brilliant cast of rising stars, and we’re sure audiences will love this gang of misfits as they fight to survive Red Rose.”
Red Rose will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Netflix for the rest of the world.