The award-winning makers of The Dog House and the BAFTA-winning producer of First Dates are looking for children from Hampshire and the local area - aged 5 to 8 - for a brand-new BBC series about childhood friendships.

Does your child love meeting new people? A brand-new BBC series is casting in Hampshire

Friendship starts in all sorts of ways. Bonding over dinosaurs. Running around pretending to be superheroes. Sitting quietly drawing side-by-side. Sometimes all it takes is one child saying hello.

Young friends comfort each other  | iStock

placeholder image — Young friends comfort each other  | iStock

Will You Be My Friend? is a heart-warming new BBC series exploring the world of friendship through children aged 5 to 8.

At the heart of the series is The Friendship Centre, where child psychologists support children who are finding friendships difficult and help them build confidence in social situations. Each child is then sensitively matched on a playdate with a potential new friend from their local area.

We are currently looking for outdoorsy, active and open-hearted children aged 5 to 8 who would enjoy meeting a new friend and taking part in a fun playdate experience.

Your child might be a keen gardener, a little explorer, or maybe they just love being in nature. Most importantly, they enjoy connecting with others and could help another child feel included, seen and accepted.

Children smiling in a friendship circle  | iStock

The series is a celebration of kindness, connection and the huge difference one friendship can make in a child’s life.

Will You Be My Friend? is casting now in Hampshire and the local area, and we would love to hear from families with children aged 5 to 8 who think their child could be a great match for another child looking for friendship.

To apply, please go to: https://makingfriends.tv 

Instagram: @Willyoubemyfriend_tv 

Facebook: Will You Be My Friend  

TikTok: @Willyoubemyfriend_tv 