Netflix has added the first three seasons of Jamie Johnson, a cherished BBC children's drama about a talented young footballer, to its streaming library. The series, which originally aired on CBBC, follows gifted youth Jamie as he navigates a new school after his father abandons the family, forcing him and his mother to move in with his grandfather. Louis Dunn stars in the title role.
Filming Locations and Football Venues
The initial three series were shot around Nottingham, while subsequent episodes were filmed across Wales, including Port Talbot and Porthcawl. The show also features legendary football venues such as Manchester City's Etihad Campus and St George's Park.
Themes and Guest Appearances
Adapted from Dan Freedman's novel series, Jamie Johnson has earned acclaim for addressing challenging subjects such as racism, bullying, sexism, and homophobia for younger viewers. The series boasts special guest appearances from footballing icons including Gary Lineker, Steph Houghton, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Luis Suárez, and Vincent Kompany, according to the Express.
Additional notable cast members include Scarborough Athletic legend Theo Chapman as Jamie's friend Harry, Coronation Street actress Emma Stansfield as Jamie's mother Karen, and Tim Dantay as Jamie's grandfather Mike. The series also showcases an early performance from Doctor Who companion and Coronation Street star Millie Gibson, alongside Lucy Speed (EastEnders) as Ms Savage and Brian Bovell as Mr Hansard, Jamie's formidable coach and Harry's grandfather.
Reception and Availability
One enthusiastic viewer on Reddit said: "I'm on series 6 and absolutely loving it. There's just so much happening in it and can't get my head around it all." Another admirer on IMDB described it as "Definitely one of the best kids shows out now," adding: "It's majorly enjoyable and you will fall in love with the characters." A final viewer praised on X: "Jamie Johnson CBBC series is absolutely amazing. Even if you're not massively into football I recommend it. Series 5 in particular is fantastic."
The first three seasons of Jamie Johnson are now available on Netflix. For those unable to wait for additional series, all five seasons are currently available on BBC iPlayer. The programme has since spawned a spin-off series, Jamie Johnson FC, which follows Jamie's initial venture into professional football.
