We meet the cast of new Bristol-filmed BBC comedy series Boarders

A new comedy-drama, filmed in Bristol, will follow the lives of five talented black inner-city teenagers navigating their way through an ‘alien world’ – the British public school system.      

Boarders was filmed at Clifton College over the summer holidays last year and other locations such as Ashton Court and Redcliffe.   

The college will double as the fictional St Gilbert’s, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious schools, where the five leads (Jaheim, Leah, Omar, Toby and Femi) are offered sixth form scholarships.        

BristolWorld spoke with the cast members to find out how they found filming in our city.

“It's huge, it’s massive, it’s like Hogwarts,” was the view of Clifton College of Josh Tedeku, who plays Jaheim in the show.    

“There’s so many corridors and classrooms, I don’t feel like we went around the whole school. 

“There’s something nostalgic about it, maybe that’s because it reminds me of Harry Potter. It’s a beautiful school.” 

Josh and his fellow cast members - Jodie Campbell (Leah), Sekou Diaby (Toby), Aruna Jalloh (Femi) - lived in the same apartment complex during the filming of the show. Myles Kamwendo (Omar) didn’t as he’s actually from Bristol.  

“Bristol is lovely - it was a nice place to spend the summer with these guys and the wider cast,” added Jodie.    

“We were always outside, the nature there is beautiful. The Downs, the bridge. We went to a festival [Forwards], we saw Erykah Badu. 

“I wouldn't have gone to Bristol if I wasn’t filming there so I’m really happy this job took me to this location.” 

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The show will see the five go on a journey as they learn about themselves, their identity and what it’s like to live alongside the one percent - which they discover is nothing like life as they knew it. 

Among the cast members, Josh and Leah actually have experience of private school, so how does it compare to that portrayed in the show?

“I’ve only experienced private school for a week before I realised how much money it was and got the hell out of there,” said Josh.  

“When I stepped in there for that week, St Gilbert’s did remind me of it a bit, it’s so grand, the buildings are huge, Latin classes, houses - it was a mad experience.      

“And actually being able to play it out this time instead of leaving after a week was interesting to get that vibe.”    

Jodie added: “Similar to Leah, I was a scholarship student so I did attend private school until I was 16.  

“When I read the script, there were 100 percent similarities with being a minority - the microagression, the stereotypes from teachers - it felt like the standard.  

“I think when reading Boarders, when understanding the premise, it was really interesting to have something to relate to and also highlight the issues that come with these type of institutions. I think it’s a great show in terms of that.”

Boarders is on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three from 20 February.