Families in Leicester are being encouraged to take part in a new BBC documentary series exploring the challenges young children face when trying to make friends.
Titled Will You Be My Friend?, the six-part programme will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and is produced by Five Mile Films, the team behind The Dog House and First Dates. Producers are now looking for children aged between five and eight – particularly those in Leicester and surrounding areas – who may be struggling socially.
Picture credit: Unsplash
The series will follow children who find it difficult to form friendships, whether due to shyness, low confidence or a feeling of not fitting in. Through a specially designed “Friendship Centre,” psychologists will work with participants to build social skills and confidence, before arranging carefully matched playdates with other local children.
Cameras will then revisit the children six weeks later to see how their experiences have impacted their lives at school, in the playground and at home.
Producers say the show aims to highlight a growing issue among young people. Research suggests that 42% of children worry daily about friendships, while more than half of parents report their children struggle to make friends due to low confidence. Post-pandemic changes to social interaction have also contributed, with many schools noting a decline in communication and social skills.
Emma Loach, Interim Head of Commissioning for Documentaries at the BBC, said the series reflects a universal human experience. She noted that the desire “to connect, to be seen, and to belong” resonates at any age, adding that even small gestures can have a profound impact.
Nick Mirsky, CEO of Five Mile Films, described the programme as “joyful, warm and funny,” while also offering a fresh look at the challenges of building friendships in childhood.
Filming is scheduled to take place in July and August 2026, with Leicester families invited to apply. Producers are particularly keen to hear from local parents who feel their child could benefit from the experience.
The series aims to deliver a simple but powerful message: that just one friendship can change a life – and it often begins with a single question, “Will you be my friend?”
To apply, visit: https://eu.castitreach.com/ag/fivemilefilms/wybmfs1/welcome.html
