Grey's Anatomy and Breaking Bad favourites confirmed for new BBC drama based on award-winning novel

New BBC drama The Young Team has begun filming in Scotland, with Breaking Bad's Laura Fraser and Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd among the cast of the six-parter.

The series is an adaptation of Graeme Armstrong's award-winning debut novel of the same name. It follows 15-year-old Azzy from Airdrie, who "longs to become fully initiated into local gang – 'The YTP'".

"But when Azzy, determined to prove himself, makes a bold move, a brutal gang conflict ensues with Azzy very firmly at its heart," continues the official synopsis.

Fraser plays Azzy's long-suffering mum, Angela, while McKidd has taken on the role of Azzy's inspirational headteacher, Mr McGiver.

Jakob James Smith (MobLand) leads the young cast as Alan "Azzy" Williams.

"I'm absolutely buzzing to be playing Azzy," he said. "He's such a complex character and there's so much in his story about friendship, belonging and trying to find your place.

"Getting to film in North Lanarkshire, where the story is rooted, makes it feel even more special. I can't wait for people to meet Azzy and the rest of the Young Team."

They are joined by Connor Newall (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple) as Big Kenzie and Scot Greenan (T2 Trainspotting, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping) as Eck.

The cast also includes a group of emerging actors discovered through an open casting process across North Lanarkshire, including Beinn Catchpole as Whytey, David Russell as Broonie, Mick Mack as Wee Kenzie, Caiden Henderson-Brown as Addison, Lewis Ray as Danny and Jack Mooney as Wee Toffey. Together they form "The YTP" at the centre of the drama.

The BBC has described The Young Team as a study of "friendship, identity, territorial violence and belonging as the boys become postcode warriors in a toxic cycle that threatens to consume them".

It is "an unflinching look at the realities of addiction and gang violence, and the fight for a different future for young, disenfranchised people".

"The Young Team has brought me back to direct in Scotland for the first time in 30 years and I can't think of a more fitting way to mark my professional homecoming," said director Paul McGuigan (Gangster No.1, Lucky Number Slevin, Sherlock).

He said that the young cast was "an exciting new generation of working-class talent selected from an open audition process that saw over 1,000 young people apply".

"We're incredibly proud to be bringing this unapologetically Scottish story to the screen," added executive producer Claire Mundell, the founder and creative director of Synchronicity Films.

Further casting is set to be announced in due course.

The Young Team is coming soon to BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland.

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