From award-winning director Gurinder Chadha known for Bend it Like Beckham and Bride & Prejudice and the creator of TOWIE, Tony Wood, comes Sky Living's first real-life drama series.
Chronicling the lives of a multi-generational cast within the British-Asian community, the series will be filmed in West London in suburbs such as Southall, Harrow and Gerrards Cross, which are home to rich and diverse populations. Shot just days before transmission, Desi Rascals tells the stories of a modern, dynamic and aspirational group of characters across a range of ages as they navigate their social, professional and family lives in a fast changing community.
The series will be rooted in the social media landscape, shot in real time and using social networks so the cast can interact with Sky Living customers as their lives unfold on screen. It will be shown twice a week at 8pm, with each episode directly influenced by how the characters and audience react to what's just happened.
Antonia Hurford-Jones, Director, Sky Living said: "I am so excited to be bringing our customers a genuinely authentic and warm approach to the non-scripted drama genre with Desi Rascals. It has exactly the tone and sensibilities we look for in a Living show and I loved the idea from the minute I heard it. I am so excited to be working with the supremely talented Gurinder and Tony, telling the stories of a charming, smart, funny and previously untapped cast of characters."
Gurinder Chadha, CEO Bend It TV, commented: "I've been wanting for a long time to create a show which allowed me to show the British Asian community in a truly three-dimensional way, exploring the relationships between generations and what it means to be British and Asian as values become fluid. I am pumped that we'll get to see a show from where I grew up with people talking about their world and lives in their own words – I could never write dialogue as rich as this!"
Tony Wood, CEO, Buccaneer Media said: "Having been at the start of the British structured reality boom, it's great to be back. Desi Rascals moves the genre on and brings the massive tale of young British Asians to a whole new audience. I'm thrilled to be working with Sky Living and Gurinder; this is a brilliant opportunity."
Watch the trailer above and click here to meet the cast.
Desi Rascals start on Tuesday January 20th at 8pm on Sky Living.
