What It Feels Like for a Girl: BBC’s New Series Brings Paris Lees’ Memoir to Screen Amid UK Legal Controversy

Following the UK Supreme Court’s recent controversial ruling, the BBC’s latest TV series What It Feels Like for a Girl is gaining attention for adapting Paris Lees’ powerful coming-of-age memoir.

Set against the backdrop of the early 2000s Y2K club scene, the show follows 13-year-old Byron (Ellis Howard) before she transitions into Paris. Determined to escape her working-class coal mining hometown of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, Byron becomes a teenage sex worker and explores Nottingham’s captivating underworld. She finds a sense of belonging with “The Fallen Divas,” a charismatic group of rebellious misfits, embarking on a journey of self-discovery fueled by drugs, love, and anarchy.

Key Cast and Characters

The series also stars Jake Dunn as Liam, a tough teen who secretly works as a sex worker. Other cast members include Laquarn Lewis, Hannah Jones, Alex Thomas-Smith, Adam Ali, Laura Haddock, Hannah Walters, Calam Lynch, and Michael Socha.

Social and Political Context

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Dunn addressed the UK’s Supreme Court decision affirming that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act refer to biological sex. He described the current political climate as “very scary” but expressed pride in being part of this groundbreaking show, which places transgender experiences at its core.

How to Watch What It Feels Like for a Girl Online in the U.S.

Season one consists of eight episodes, currently streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK. Due to licensing restrictions, BBC iPlayer is unavailable in the U.S. However, viewers can use VPN services such as ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, or NordVPN to connect to UK servers and stream the series securely.

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Can You Watch BBC iPlayer on Amazon Prime Video?

While Amazon Prime Video includes the BBC Select channel and select BBC series, it does not provide access to BBC iPlayer content.