A new BBC programme is inviting applications from children aged five to eight who are finding it difficult to make friends for a new television series designed to explore childhood friendship and social confidence.
The six-part programme, titled Will You Be My Friend?, is being produced by Five Mile Films for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and comes from the production team behind The Dog House and producers associated with First Dates.
The series follows children who may be shy, feel different from their peers or have not yet found friendship easily.
Through a specially designed Friendship Centre, psychologists will work with participants to help them develop confidence and social skills before introducing them to a potential new friend from their local area during a play date.
Six weeks later, the programme returns to see how those experiences may have influenced the children’s confidence at school, in the playground and at home.
Emma Loach, Interim Head of Commissioning, Documentaries at the BBC, said:
“The longing to connect, to be seen, and to belong is universal. Whether you’re five or fifty-five, I defy anyone to watch these children without seeing a little bit of themselves reflected.
“In a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, this series shows that the simplest gestures – a smile, a shared joke, a tentative ‘will you be my friend?’ – still have the power to change everything. Five Mile Films has brought us something very special, and we couldn’t be prouder to give it a home on the BBC.”
Nick Mirsky, Chief Executive of Five Mile Films, added:
“I don’t think there’s a commission I could be more thrilled to bring to Five Mile. Will You Be My Friend? will be joyful, warm and funny, but it also does something genuinely new – inviting us to look closely at the challenge and art of making friends.”
Filming is scheduled to take place during July and August 2026, with families encouraged to apply if they believe the programme could help their child develop confidence and social connections.
The production team says the programme responds to growing concern around childhood loneliness and reduced social confidence, with recent studies showing that many parents and schools have noticed changes in children’s communication and friendship skills in recent years.
Watch the short video call out:
Applications are now open through https://bemyfriend.tv/
