Year 7 pupil Daya S A has secured a role in the upcoming CBeebies comedy series The Football Fantastics, which is set to air in early July.
The ten-part show, set in Yorkshire, follows six children who attend a lively and often unpredictable weekend football club, led by an enthusiastic coaching team and a nature-loving groundskeeper.
Daya plays one of the central characters, Taran, described as a solid footballer with a mature outlook and a humorous side. He said: “The character felt quite close to who I am. I was told he had a bit of Ross from Friends or a young Gareth Southgate about him—sensible, but with a streak of goofiness!”
Filming involved long days, on-set tutoring and close collaboration with the cast and crew. The young actors lived together during production, forming strong bonds. “Everyone became like a big family and we really looked out for one another,” said Daya.
Balancing schoolwork alongside filming was a key part of the experience. “My teachers sent work via Teams and I had a tutor on set. One of my classmates even sent me photos of her books to help me keep up.”
Daya’s mother, Raj, described the experience as both rewarding and revealing. “It was a joy to watch him working so hard and handling everything with such maturity,” she said. “He managed the time pressures, schoolwork and learning his lines with real tenacity.”
She also expressed her appreciation for the School’s support: “While this was a unique opportunity, school remained the priority, and we’re grateful for how supportive and encouraging BGS has been throughout.”
Daya is no stranger to the spotlight, represented by Articulate Drama School & Agency, Bradford, he voiced Mark Clump in the Sky Original children’s series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, and his diverse portfolio includes appearances in McDonald’s and Royal Navy adverts, as well as Channel 4’s The Secret Life of 5 Year Olds.
“While this was a unique opportunity, school remained the priority, and we’re grateful for how supportive and encouraging BGS has been throughout.”