BBC series: Material Girl

Lenora Crichlow, Dervla Kirwan and Michael Landes star in new six-part drama Material Girl, a romantic comedy about a young fashion designer battling an evil ex-boss, a sexy-but-devilish business partner and snobby fashionistas to get her break in work and love.

Characters

Set in the bustling, creative hot-bed of Brick Lane, Leonora Crichlow (Being Human, Sugar Rush) is Ali Redcliffe who sets out to make a name for herself as a fashion designer, in the only way she knows how, through sheer hard work and talent.

Dervla Kirwan (Doctor Who) is Davina Bailey, the scheming designer of the moment, who isn't about to give up her crown as queen of fashion, and the designer every hot star wants to be dressed by.

Alongside Ali is Marco, played by Michael Landes (Love Soup), the mercurial and brilliant business partner who wants to make Ali a star.

At the heart of the show is Ali, impetuous, feisty, neurotic, a total mess in her personal life but extraordinarily talented in her professional life as a fashion designer, mid-twenties, single, fiercely loyal to her tightly-knit group of friends, Alex, Mimi and Lydia.

Alex (Nick Blood) is Ali's flatmate and best friend from college, but also a designer at Ali's key rival, Davina Bailey; Mimi (Ingrid Oliver) is the wannabe stylist at a leading fashion magazine, and almost as intuitive and brilliant as Ali; and Lydia (Anna Brewster) the model with a face like an angel and the voice of a navvy.

Ali's love life is equally up in the air, after a difficult break-up she starts seeing the almost-too-good-to-be-true (but gorgeous) Chris (OT Fagbenle). But will the sexual tension with her and her business partner, Marco, threaten her new relationship?

Friendships and relationships

It is these friendships and relationships, the ups and downs, solidarity, extraordinary chemistry and their entwined destinies that are the fabric of Material Girl.

Gareth Neame, Managing Director of Carnival Film & Television, the producers of the series, says: "We're delighted to make this show for BBC One. Viewers can expect all the glamour and colour of the fashion world alongside warm, witty and colourful characters and, above all, the dreams and passions of a tight-knit group of friends."

Material Girl was commissioned by Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, Controller, Drama Commissioning. Polly Hill is the BBC Executive Producer.

Ben Stephenson says: "Material Girl is a fun saga of a girl trying to make it in a competitive professional and personal world with all the zest of a Hollywood romantic comedy.

"It has got a terrific cast of exciting new actors, as well as the fabulous Michael Landes and Dervla Kirwan."

Material Girl is produced by Chrissy Skinns (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl); directed by Cilla Ware (Primeval, All The Small Things), Sarah O'Gorman (Plus One) and Philip John (Mistresses).

Material Girl is inspired by Fashion Babylon, written by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous. The series has been written by Joshua St.Johnston, Colin Bytheway, Ben Ockrent, Imogen Edwards-Jones and Jess Williams.

High Definition

Material Girl is also being simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's high definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD gives you exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures to make Material Girl a truly cinematic TV experience

Material Girl starring Lenora Crichlow

Ali Redcliffe is a struggling fashion designer battling it out with queen of fashion - Davina Bailey

Starring Lenora Crichlow, Dervla Kirwan, Michael Landes, Nick Blood, Ingrid Oliver and Anna Brewster