BBC Commissions Transgender Sitcom

The BBC has commissioned a transgender-relevant sitcom, a first for the U.K., London's Independent reports. Described as "funny, sensitive and progressive," the upcoming series, titled Boy Meets Girl, has a pilot script created by award-winning U.K. author Elliot Kerrigan and chosen from submissions for the Trans Comedy Award, which offered a PS5,000 prize for the best positive portrayal of trans characters.

The sitcom is set in and around the city of Manchester, England, and the series pilot stars trans actress Rebecca Root. The synopsis of the series, which will air in six half-hour episodes on BBC2, seems to suggest a classic romantic sitcom with a trans twist:

"Leo's had a bad day. He's been fired (again), is being given a hard time by his mum and, to cap it all, his blind date fails to show up. But then he bumps into Judy and finds himself deeply attracted to this surprising and beguiling woman. They bond over drinks and, unfazed by the fact that there's a bit of an age gap between them, arrange to meet the following evening. Leo's mother is unhappy that he's having dinner with an older woman. But Leo doesn't care what she thinks; he knows that he's just met someone very special."

Boy Meets Girl will be the first sitcom to revolve primarily around trans people and issues, a departure from other television shows such as Orange Is the New Black which have included trans characters and issues but usually in supporting roles and subplots, not as the main storyline. While the BBC has yet to officially announce the cast of the show or a premiere date for the series, the network has confirmed that it is committed to having a trans actress play the lead role of Judy.