Young Harrogate actor lands breakthrough role in major new BBC Lord of the Flies adaptation
A young actor from Harrogate is set to appear in a major new BBC drama based on the classic novel – Lord of the Flies.
Bon Cooper, 9, features in the brand new four-part adaptation of William Golding’s novel, which premieres on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, February 8.
The highly anticipated series has been adapted by multi-BAFTA award-winning writer Jack Thorne, whose previous work includes Adolescence, His Dark Materials and Enola Holmes, and directed by Marc Munden.
Filmed in Malaysia, the drama follows a group of schoolboys who find themselves stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash, forced to survive without adult supervision as order and civility begin to unravel.
The series stars an ensemble cast of more than 30 boys and is led by Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt, David McKenna and Ike Talbut, many of whom are making their professional acting debuts.
Bon, who is represented by Articulate Agency in Shipley, is one of the youngest members of the cast and is already being tipped as a rising star.
Speaking about landing the role, Bon said: “My mum and me were in the car when Stacey and Lucy called to tell us I got the part.
"I couldn’t believe it – it was only my second part ever.
“It was so much fun to film in Malaysia.
"It was like a crash course in acting with the best teachers in the world.
"We jumped into the sea after filming every night, fought off monkey raids on our room and I even got to ride a speedboat to work with the other boys.”
Bon’s mum, Danielle, said the experience was unforgettable for both of them.
She said: “I’ll never forget Stacey and Lucy shouting down the line – you’re going to Malaysia.
"It took a while to sink in.
"It was such an adventure – a very long flight, super hot and sticky, monsoon weather, but just the best people and crew.
"We all lived together in a hotel on a beach, applying sunscreen and bug spray at 5.30am and sending the 34 kids off to filming every day for three months.
"I made friends for life and Bon had the honour of learning acting skills from the best in the world.
"Absolutely unforgettable.”
Jack Thorne’s adaptation is said to remain faithful to Golding’s original setting in the early 1950s, while exploring themes of human nature, the loss of innocence and boyhood masculinity in greater depth.
Bon is also set to appear in several upcoming productions yet to be released, including The Tenth Planet, in which he stars opposite Kevin Spacey.