Bristol actor says new BBC series Boarders is 'for everyone'

Myles Kamwendo said it was "great" to film in his home city

New comedy-drama series Boarders is "for everyone" says one of its stars.

Myles Kamwendo, a 22-year-old former University of the West of England student, plays Omar in the BBC Three show.

The six-part series, filmed in Bristol, follows five talented, underprivileged black students from London who win scholarships to an elite boarding school.

Mr Kamwendo said it was "quite the experience" filming in his home city.

He began acting at school as a teenager, before applying to drama schools at 18.

Although he was unsuccessful in gaining a place, Mr Kamwendo was able to enrol onto a drama course at UWE in Bristol, which he described as "a blessing in disguise" because he gave him the opportunity to sign with an agent.

Aruna Jalloh (L) and Myles Kamwendo (R) feature in the series

Mr Kamwendo said: "The dynamic on set was great. As a core five, we really gelled, we're family now.

"I was blessed to be around such talented and kind actors and crew. It was quite the experience."

He added: "In some way, shape or form, I feel this show is for everyone."

(L-R) Aruna Jalloh, Josh Tedeku, Jodie Campbell, Myles Kamwendo and Sekou Diaby

Madeleine Sinclair is executive producer on what has been described as a "high energy, coming-of-age comedy-drama".

She said: "The school we found in Bristol worked incredibly well for the story.

"It had the beauty, scale and sense of history we were looking for to really emphasise the 'fish out of water' feeling for the new scholarship students, coming from inner-city London to this world of privilege. 

"In addition to the aesthetics of the location being a great fit for the story, filming in Bristol really appealed. There's a great crew base there.

"Bristol Film Office were incredibly helpful and it's a fantastic city to be based in for cast and crew," she added.

Myles Kamwendo (L) and Sekou Diaby (R) are among the group of students from London

Many crew members from the city contributed to the production, as well as a number of ScreenSkills trainees.

"The premise of the show is about access to opportunity and it was important to us to try and reflect that in the production and with the crew," Ms Sinclair added.

The series begins on BBC Three and iPlayer from 20 February.

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