Worried About The Boy coming to BBC Two's 80s season

BBC Two's Worried About The Boy tells the story of a young Boy George who dreams of living a life filled with originality and passion, and of becoming a star in the Eighties fashion and pop music scene.

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What's the story?

Growing up as a teenager, George O'Dowd realises he is not like other boys his own age. He is sharp-witted, independent-minded and has a passion for clothes and make-up. Leaving the London suburbs for the smoke of the city he soon becomes a fixture at the infamous Blitz Club – the favourite haunt of those at the forefront of the New Romantic movement.

Nightclub pioneer and Visage front-man Steve Strange offers George a job as cloakroom attendant at the Blitz. There, he meets Kirk, lead singer of Theatre Of Hate and George's first true love, who inspires him to write his own music.

George approaches music impresario Malcolm McLaren, who agrees to give him the chance to be part of a band. Having failed to fit in with the other band members, he is approached by Mikey, who invites George to be the lead singer of a band he's setting up.

A chance meeting with Jon Moss leads to him joining the band as drummer – and to a short and passionate affair with George. Along with Roy Hay on guitar, the band is edging towards professionalism and Culture Club is complete.

Set at the heart of the changing music scene in the Eighties, Worried About The Boy is as much about Boy George's emotional development and constant search for love as it is about his ambition and career.

Who's in it?

The cast includes talented newcomer Douglas Booth as Boy George, while Marc Warren (Hustle) plays nightclub pioneer and Visage front-man Steve Strange, Richard Madden (Hope Springs) plays Kirk, Mark Gatiss (The League Of Gentlemen) plays music impresario Malcolm McLaren, Dean Fagan plays Mikey, Mathew Horne (Gavin And Stacey) plays Jon Moss and Jonny Burt (Casualty) plays Roy Hay.

What should we expect?

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, says: "Worried About The Boy will be an evocative and visually enticing drama about one of our most iconic British pop stars. With its mix of music, fashion and youth, it rounds off our trio of dramas for BBC Two's Eighties season perfectly."

Nicola Shindler, Executive Producer, Red Production Company, says: "I was very excited at taking such an iconic British character and showing a different side to a story everyone thinks they know. The early Eighties magical setting of the Blitz Club and the New Romantics is fun, visual and new to TV drama."


Worried About The Boy airs at 9pm on Sunday 16th May 2010 on BBC Two.