Jamie Johnson (TV series) explained

Image Alt:	DVD cover for series 1 of Jamie Johnson
Genre:	Children's drama
Creator:	Dan Freedman
Based On:	Jamie Johnson by Dan Freedman
Director:	Joe Talbot
Composer:	Rob Manning
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Num Series:	7
Num Episodes:	66 (+ 10 special episodes)
Executive Producer:	Sue Nott
Producer:	Sam Talbot
Location:	Port Talbot, Wales (Series 4-7) Nottingham, England (Series 1-3)
Runtime:	27-28 minutes
Company:	Short Form Film BBC Studios Kids & Family
Network:	CBBC
Related:	Jamie Johnson FC

Jamie Johnson is a British children's drama television broadcast on CBBC from 8 June 2016 to 17 November 2022. The series followed the self-titled character, portrayed by Louis Dunn, as he negotiates secondary school and issues at home, along with being a talented footballer. A brand new spin off series, Jamie Johnson FC, set in the world of elite academy football, was released in 2023.

The show features several cameo appearances from footballers past and present, including Gary Lineker, Steph Houghton, Raheem Sterling, Luis Suarez and Vincent Kompany.

Synopsis

Jamie Johnson is a seriously gifted footballer capable of going all the way. But after his dad walks out on them, Jamie and his mother are forced to move in with Jamie's grandfather, meaning Jamie has to start at a new school. He makes friends with Jack and Boggy but makes an enemy of Dillon and struggles to impress football coach, Mr Hansard.

The series has had many very special episodes, covering topics such as bullying, sexism, cheating, blackmail, relationships, diabetes, homelessness, multiple sclerosis, racism, crime and homophobia.

The plot is very loosely based on the storyline in the book series of the same name, written author by Dan Freedman, using some of the characters in the books.

Cast and characters

Character

Played by

Series

List of Jamie Johnson episodes

Jamie Johnson

Louis Dunn

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Jacqueline "Jack" Marshall

Olivia Lava/Lenna Gunning Williams

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Hugo "Boggy" Bogson

Jonnie Kimmins

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Dillon Simmonds

Patrick Ward

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Harry Hansard

Theo Chapman

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Karen Johnson

Emma Stansfield

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Mike Johnson

Tim Dantay

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Mr. Hilary Hansard

Brian Bovell

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Ian Reacher

Santiago Mosquera/William Fox

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Indira Cave

Millie Gibson

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Ms. R Savage

Lucy Speed

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Nancy

Ellie Daley

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Jethro Stevenson

Miles Wallace

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Zoe Moore

Maddie Murchinson

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Walter "Wozza" Worthington

Jermaine Johnson

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Sienna Jones

Ellie Botterill

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Alba Osborne

Elena Cole

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Eric Atlee

Morgan Hudson

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Freddie Seo

Keaton Edmund

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Molly Sinkamba

Thanyia Moore

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Duncan Jones

Glen Wallace

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Ruby Osborne

Zoe Hall

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Liam Simmonds

Haydn Craven

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Jake Wilson

Louie Theaker

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Kasia

Ellie Malone

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Tayo

Jarmaine Muganiwa

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Jess Christie

Natali McCleary

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Sam

Jessica McHale

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Bex

Gracie Grosvenor

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Karim

Dillon Bains

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Maddy Kingston

Olivia Chomczuk

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Mukhtar ''Mukki'' Hamid| Ayham Kabi| colspan=6 | colspan=1 |-| Uzma| Iyla Sundarsingh McKaig| colspan=6 | colspan=1 |}

Episodes

Series 1 (2016)

In the series Jeremy is played by Jonathan Race and Jack Marshall is played by Olivia Lava. This would be the only time Jonathan Race and Olivia Lava are able to play these characters as they are replaced by Andrew Williams and Lenna Gunning Williams in the following series. Ian Reacher is played by Santiago Mosquera for only this series.

Series 2 (2017)

In this series, Jeremy is played by William Andrews now and Jack Marshall is now played by Lenna Gunning Williams due to the two previous actors being unable and/or unwilling to return to the programme. Ian Reacher is now played by William Fox in his first actual appearance.

Series 4 (2019)

The Real Gothia Cup (2019)

Series 5 (2020)

Into E-Sports special (2020)

Series 6 (2021)

All episode of the series were released in the BBC iPlayer on Monday and each episode was aired on CBBC on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5.00pm.

!No.overall!No.series!Title!Directed by!Written by !Original air date
50	1	"Fresh Blood"	Joe Talbot	Jaden Clark	25 October 2021
At Phoenix, a new season begins, and Alba seems dead set on getting a trophy however with the team in disunity and with Liam still having it in for her, it's going to be much harder than she thought. Notes: First appearances of Bex, Finn, Zeph, Nico, Jackson, Billy and Jess Christie.
51	2	"Trials and Tribulation"	Joe Talbot	Julia Kent	26 October 2021
There's a huge assemblage for the trials at Phoenix, as well as a sensational female midfielder and a keeper with a secret. Alba and Liam clash over their preferred candidates.Note: First appearance of Jake Wilson.
52	3	"The Comeback Kid"	Joe Talbot	Matt Sinclair	1 November 2021
As a pivotal cup match approaches, Jake dreams of being the next Jamie Johnson. However, when the opportunity presents itself, will he choose to be a hero or a villain?Note: First appearance of Sam.
53	4	"100% Commitment"	Joe Talbot	Ann Marie Di Mambro	2 November 2021
A surprise new coach arrives, who the players want to impress, shakes things up - but has Alba taken her eye off the ball?
54	5	"Claim to Fame"	Keri Collins	Anne Marie Di Mambro	8 November 2021
When Freddie goes solo, his expedition for online views, exhibits him to the inimical side of the internet. Meanwhile, one of Jake's lies finally catch up with him.
55	6	"Friends in Need"	Joe Talbot	Diane Whitley	9 November 2021
Amid rumours that he is vacating Phoenix, Freddie meets an old friend, but a distressing incident shakes him to his core. Meanwhile, Alba discovers a shocking secret about Jess.
56	7	"The Lion's Den"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	15 November 2021
Freddie seeks atonement, when he comes back to Phoenix but in their quarter-final with the Seagate Lions, an appalling incident occurs which changes everything.
57	8	"The Right Thing"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	16 November 2021
The Phoenix players face the hugest adjudication of their season after the shocking incident the day before, knowing it will have big consequences - what will they do?
58	9	"Nemisis"	Keri Collins	Julia Kent	22 November 2021
The players look to the future, when Duncan gives exciting news but when his position seems threatened, Liam resorts to desperate measures - how will Alba react?
59	10	"Sucker Punch"	Keri Collins	Jaden Clark	23 November 2021
Liam threatens to reveal what she had done as Alba tries to live with the consequences of her actions. Meanwhile, Mike gets some devastating news.
60	11	"Secrets and Lies"	Keri Collins	Shaun Duggan	29 November 2021
Freddie and Alba are tenacious to make the anti-racism fundraiser a success, but gate crashers threaten to ruin everything. Note: Guest appearances of Dillion Simmonds, Jack Marshall, Walter Worthington and Elliot. Note: Last appearances of Dillion Simmonds, Jack Marshall, Walter Worthington and Aisha.
61	12	"Danger Zone"	Keri Collins	Shaun Duggan	30 November 2021
Liam's first day of training with the Seagate Lions creates some surprises. The Phoenix players plot their revenge, but it all comes down to Freddie. Note: Guest appearance of Elliot. Note: Last appearance of Elliot.
62	13	"Revelation"	Keri Collins	Shaun Duggan	6 December 2021
Phoenix play the Seagate Lions in the ultimate grudge match precipitating shockwaves both on and off the pitch.

Series 7 (2022)

Each episode was released every Wednesday and Thursday at 6:00pm on the CBBC channel and also released on BBC iPlayer after the original airings on the CBBC channel.


No.Overall	No. Inseries	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original airdate
63	1	''Half-brothers''\|	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	12 October 2022
Both Jamie and Jake are stunned at the sudden revelation that they are paternal half-brothers. Can they learn to put aside their differences aside? Or will they end up more divided than ever? Note: First appearance of Karim.
64	2	"Point to Prove"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	13 October 2022
Jake uses his family connection to Jamie to pressure him into letting him play upfront for the U13s. The arrival of new players onto the team causes tension both on and off the pitch. Note: First appearances of Maddy Kingston and Mukki Hamid.
65	3	"Siege"	Sion Thomas	Peter Kalu & Diane Whitley	19 October 2022
Chaos befalls in Goodfield Park when Jake tries to lead a protest in support for one of his teammates however is he really trying to help his friend or is this all a cover up to deal with his frustration with Jamie.
66	4	"Thicker than water''\|	Sion Thomas	Ceila Morgan	20 October 2022
Duncan's decision leads to a squabble between the U13s and U15s. Alba tries to settle things by doing it the only she knows how - by challenging the U13s to a match. Whilst a mysterious stranger appearing seems to get Karim worried. Note: First appearance of Uzma.
67	5	"Park the bus"	Sion Thomas	Julia Kent	26 October 2022
Phoenix are finally heading off to Sweden						Dealing with late players, dodgy minibuses and travel havoc, can Jamie keep it all under control and save the day?
68	6	"Eye-opener"	Sion Thomas	Sheila Hyde & Julia Kent	27 October 2022
As the arrival of the Futrball cup comes, an unexpected new star emerges from the shadows at Phoenix FC, while Ian begs to Jake to give him a second chance.
69	7	"Go Together"	Joe Talbot	Matt Sinclair	2 November 2022
The Futrball Cup has finally arrived but with important players losing their focus, the Phoenix U15s and U13s both face tough opposition in their starting matches - how will they get on?
70	8	"The Hangover"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	3 November 2022
The U15s struggle to come back from the night before as a Hawkstone match dawns. It is also Uzma's first ever game as a referee - but can she trust her own judgement as the pressure begins to mount?
71	9	"In or Out''\|	Joe Talbot	Diane Whitley	9 November 2022
Sam doesn't know what to do as Maddy's reign of terror upon her continues, will her teammates finally notice before it's too late? Meanwhile, Jake has to deal with his own problems as he faces an important decision.Note: Last appearance of Maddy Kingston.
72	10	"Dirty Laundry"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	10 November 2022
The U13s truly realise how hard Mukki's journey has been when he finally opens up to them. Alba's dying to tell Liam the truth about Bex, while Jamie is agitated at being stuck at the sidelines.
73	11	"Priorities"	Joe Talbot	Jaden Clark	16 November 2022
Mukki has to deal with a choice that could decide his whole future - but will the rest of the U13s understand? Jamie realises just how badly he has let both not only his team but himself down as well.
74	12	''Chance of a Lifetime''	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	17 November 2022
Jamie gets a chance to bring his career back on track, but a family crisis threatens to ruin everything. Can Liam put Bex's betrayal behind him to focus on the U15s reaching the cup final?Note: Guest appearance of Mr Hilary Hansard. Note: Last appearance of Mr Hilary Hansard.
75	13	"Leap of Faith"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	17 November 2022
It's the finale of the Futrball cup, the hugest game Phoenix FC have ever played - can Alba, Freddie and the team make history?

Gothia Cup

For the fourth series, the team competed in the Gothia Cup, an international youth football tournament, which has featured several footballers, including Alan Shearer, Andrea Pirlo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Matches filmed for the show were mostly real contests, with the actors from the show competing in the tournament. Phoenix FC won six matches in four days, scored 25 goals, conceded just seven, and reached the quarter-finals out of 195 teams, with a squad of just twelve. The team arrived in Sweden having never played a competitive game before and having never previously met some of the cast.

Phoenix FC's run at the tournament was documented in the series four episode The Real Gothia Cup, with Louis Dunn, Lenna Gunning Williams, Patrick Ward, Maddie Murchinson, Jermaine Johnson and Ellie Botterill sharing their memories of the fairytale run.

Production

Cast members were hired for places on the team from both acting and local schools. Many episodes of the series feature cameos from current and former professional footballers specifically for the show, due to the series being produced by the BBC. Since series four, the production has taken place in Wales.

Conception

The plot is loosely based on the series of books by Dan Freedman about a schoolboy footballer experiencing family issues and playing for the school team. In 2011, the book Born to Play was published as a prequel to the series, establishing the title character, Jamie Johnson, and his estranged parents.

Jamie Johnson (TV series) explained

Synopsis

Cast and characters

Episodes

Series 1 (2016)

Series 2 (2017)

Series 4 (2019)

The Real Gothia Cup (2019)

Series 5 (2020)

Into E-Sports special (2020)

Series 6 (2021)

Series 7 (2022)

Gothia Cup

Production

Conception

External links