Five Mile Films has secured a commission from BBC Factual for a six-part series exploring friendship through the lens of children, with All3Media International attached as the worldwide distributor.
Will You Be My Friend?, for BBC One and iPlayer, features children aged 5 to 8 who are struggling socially. Psychologists from The Friendship Centre help young people boost their confidence and social skills before matching them with potential playdates in the area. Six weeks later, the team checks in on the kids again.
Emma Loach, interim head of commissioning for documentaries, said, “The longing to connect, to be seen, and to belong is universal. Whether you’re 5 or 55, I defy anyone to watch these children without seeing a little bit of themselves reflected. In a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, this series shows that the simplest gestures—a smile, a shared joke, a tentative ‘will you be my friend?’—still have the power to change everything. Five Mile Films has brought us something very special, and we couldn’t be prouder to give it a home on the BBC.”
Nick Mirsky, CEO of Five Mile Films, noted, “I don’t think there’s a commission I could be more thrilled to bring to Five Mile. Will You Be My Friend? will be joyful, warm and funny, but it also does something genuinely new—inviting us to look closely at the challenge and art of making friends.”
Filming takes place this summer. All3Media International is the international partner.
