Jamie Johnson (TV series)

Jamie Johnson is a British children's drama television show broadcast on CBBC annually since 13 June 2016.[1] The series follows the self-titled character, portrayed by Louis Dunn,[1] and features cameos from celebrities, such as Gary Lineker, Olly Murs, Luis Suárez, Alan Shearer, Jürgen Klopp, Steven Gerrard, Marcus Rashford and Kevin De Bruyne.

Jamie Johnson
Promotional cover for series 1 of Jamie Johnson
Genre	Children's drama
Created by	Dan Freedman
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	50 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Sam Talbot
Release
Original release	8 June 2016 – present

The plot is very loosely based on the storyline in the book series of the same name, written author by Dan Freedman, using some of the characters in the books.

Plot

Series 1 follows Jamie's experience at his new school, Kingsmount. We see how his friendship with Hugo "Boggy" Bogson (Jonnie Kimmins) and Jacqueline Marshall (Olivia Lava) progresses, whilst he struggles to deal with the unknown surroundings of his father, Ian Reacher (Santiago Mosquera) who has split up with his mother, Karen Johnson (Emma Stansfield). Jamie fights for a place in the school team. The series covers topics such as bullying, divorce, friendship, and sportsmanship.

Series 2 explores Kingsmount's run in the Inter-Schools Cup tournament, and how Johnson's life has changed since the events of the past series, having scored an overhead kick as a Hawkstone mascot, searched for his father (William Fox), and changed his surname from "Reacher" to "Johnson". Frictions arise between Jamie's grandfather, Mike (Tim Dantay), and Jamie's coach, Hansard (Brian Bovell), because of past events, and Jamie begins to question that Hansard is deliberately encouraging his grandson, Harry Hansard, and Dillon Simmonds, to bully and pressurise Jamie to try and fuse his temper. The series ends with Kingsmount winning the cup, and Jamie being offered a contract at the Foxborough academy. Jack Marshall (Lenna Gunning Williams) also feels hard-done-by by Hansard. She is keen to prove herself outfield, but it appears that Hansard is reluctant to do so due to her gender. Themes such as arrogance, sexism, cheating, blackmail, relationships and diabetes are covered in this series.

Series 3 follows the development and rise of a newly formed team, named "Phoenix F.C", created by Jack Marshall after the school team is disbanded due to the shortage of playing facilities, and featuring players of Kingsmount and Westfield High, after the schools merge for financial reasons. Jamie father reappears, homeless, and becomes reliant of Jamie for accommodation and food. Various incidents see Jamie "give up on football", which further sees a decline in behaviour, to the point that he is arrested. However, after realising his wrongdoings, Jamie apologises and the victim decides not to press charges. Having been told that he can only play for one team, Jamie decides to leave Foxborough academy, and play for Phoenix, as he feels that it brings the best out of him. Jack leaves Kingsmount, having been approached by Archfield Women's Academy, ahead of rival and fellow Kingsmount student, Zoe Moore (Maddie Murchison). This series features various everyday subjects, such as homelessness, ADHD, multiple sclerosis, crime, theft, and rivalry.

Series 4 primarily covers the rapid rise of Phoenix U14s, who have become the academy side of Northport Rovers, a non-league club. The club is led by chairman, Duncan Jones (Glen Wallace). However, the club are on the brink of administration. Molly Sinkamba (Thanyia Moore) becomes the coach of the U14s and an U12s team is created, featuring new characters Alba Osbourne (Elena Cole), Liam Simmonds (Haydn Craven), Freddie Sayo (Keaton Edmund) and Eric Atlee (Morgan Hudson), coached by Mike Johnson. We see the two clubs fighting for a place at the Gothia Cup, a major international tournament, to which the U14s are successful. In the Gothia Cup, they reach the Semi-Finals; perhaps not going further due to a fine showing of sportsmanship from Jamie, who deliberately misses a penalty after feeling it wasn't deserved. The video goes viral, and Northport Rovers avoid bankruptcy. Jamie is offered a contract, which would see him called up to the first team of Northport when he turns sixteen. However, in a desperate attempt to ensure Jamie signs, Duncan Jones deliberately blocks any enquires that come in for Johnson, including one from Hawkstone United.

Series 5 sees how both Phoenix teams fare on and off the pitch. We see the progression of Phoenix U16s' run in the cup, and Phoenix U13s' battle to avoid relegation in their league. Off the pitch, the series covers many everyday themes, such as homophobia (Dillon, with the help and support of new arrival Elliot (Laquarn Lewis), comes to terms with his sexuality, much to the disapproval of his father, who kicks him out of his house), mental health (shown by Boggy, who has a panic attack after being pressurised with an overload of tasks and nerves of receiving his Mathematics A-Level result), rehabilitation (having recently been signed by Hawkstone, Jamie's career is put into serious doubt after a life-threatening car accident. In order to even begin playing again, Jamie must undergo a gruelling fitness regime for many months), addiction (having seemingly given up on his recovery, Jamie turns to gaming, in an attempt to qualify for an e-Sports tournament) and relationships (primarily in a love triangle between Freddie, Eric and a new girl, Aisha (Leona Sinama Pongolle), who ends up taking a step back having seen the damage it is causing to the friendship between Freddie, Eric and Alba). The series concludes with Jamie reaching the final of the e-Sports tournament, held at the O2 Arena, and facing former friend, Jethro Stevenson (Miles Wallace) in the final. Though he wins, Jamie appears full of guilt and regret, and, instead of boarding a plane to Amsterdam to compete in a tournament for professional gamers, Jamie commits to rehab and recovery. After some time, Dillon, having turned down a contract from Foxborough, and Jamie, whose contract at Hawsktone had been terminated, now mates, are revealed to be playing professional football for Northport Rovers, making their debut in an FA Cup first round match.

Main characters

Jamie Johnson: A teenage boy who is obsessed with football, and a fan of Hawkstone United. He lives with his mother and grandfather. At the end of Series 5, he is revealed to be playing professional football for Northport Rovers.

Dillon Simmonds: First is portrayed as a bully, he progressively becomes more mature. He is diabetic, and gay. At the end of Series 5, he is revealed to be playing professional football for Northport Rovers, alongside Jamie.

Jacqueline 'Jack' Marshall: A talented teenage girl who just wants to be accepted by a football academy. She is very much a tomboy and loves football. She is best friends with Jamie and Boggy, and signs for the Archfield Women's Academy in Series 3, thus forcing her to leave Kingsmount.

Hugo 'Boggy' Bogson: An intelligent teenage boy who makes decisions based on stats. Despite initially hating football, he works hard as mascot, scout and tactician to make sure he gets accepted into the football community.

Mike Johnson: Jamie's granddad, advisor and also a former professional football player.

Karen Johnson: A single mother to Jamie, a nurse and a counsellor.

Zoe Moore: A fiery teenage girl who loves football and does everything to play. She has frequent tensions with Jack and Kat. She is offered a contract to play for Hawkstone Academy in Series 5, alongside Kat.

Cast

Actor	Character	Series
		1	2	3	4	5
Louis Dunn	Jamie Johnson	Main
Emma Stansfield	Karen Johnson	Main
Tim Dantay	Mike Johnson	Main
Patrick Ward	Dillon Simmonds	Main
Jonnie Kimmins	Hugo 'Boggy' Bogson	Main
Olivia Lava	Jack Marshall	Main	N/A
Lenna Gunning Williams		N/A	Main		Recurring
Theo Chapman	Harry Hansard	Main		N/A
Brian Bovell	Mr Hillary Hansard	Main			N/A
Millie Gibson	Indira Cave	N/A	Main		N/A
Lucy Speed	Ms Savage	N/A	Main		N/A
Miles Wallace	Jethro Stevenson	N/A	Recurring	Main	N/A	Recurring
Ellie Daley	Nancy	N/A	Recurring	Main	Guest	N/A
Santiago Mosquera	Ian Reacher	Guest	N/A
William Fox		N/A	Recurring
Jermaine Johnson	Walter 'Wozza' Worthington	N/A		Main	Recurring	N/A
Maddie Murchison	Zoe Moore	N/A		Main
Glen Wallace	Duncan Jones	N/A			Main
Thanyia Moore	Molly Sinkamba	N/A			Main	N/A
Morgan Hudson	Eric Atlee	N/A			Main
Keaton Edmund	Freddie Sayo	N/A			Main
Elena Cole	Alba Osborne	N/A			Main
Ellie Botterill	Sienna Jones	N/A			Main	N/A
Haydn Craven	Liam Simmonds	N/A			Recurring	Main
Zoe Hall	Ruby Osborne	N/A			Main
Rhys ap William	Howard Royle	N/A			Guest	Recurring
Noa Thomas	Archie Royle	N/A				Recurring
Laquarn Lewis	Elliot	N/A				Recurring
Amaya Navarro	Kat Clayton	N/A				Main
Leona Sinama Pongolle	Aisha	N/A				Main

Episodes

Series		Episodes		Originally aired
				First aired	Last aired
	1	3		8 June 2016	8 June 2016
	2	10		5 April 2017	7 June 2017
	3	10		5 April 2018	7 June 2018
	4	14		11 April 2019	29 June 2019
	5	14		7 May 2020	30 July 2020

Series 1 (2016)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.K viewers (millions)
1	1	"Debut"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	8 June 2016	N/A
2	2	"Own Goal"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	8 June 2016	N/A
3	3	"Decider"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	8 June 2016	N/A

Plot Overview

Jamie Reacher (Louis Dunn) is an eleven-year-old boy, living with his single mother, Karen Johnson (Emma Stansfield) and grandfather, Mike Johnson (Tim Dantay) obsessed with football, and fan of Hawkstone United - whose rival team are Foxborough. Joining the school team, Jamie befriends Jacqueline Marshall (Olivia Lava) and mascot Hugo "Boggy" Bogson (Jonnie Kimmins).

After seeing his mother kissing her new boyfriend, Jeremy (Jonathan Race), Jamie becomes curious about his father (Santiago Mosquera)'s surroundings. He becomes frustrated and agitated, and is dropped from the football team after failing to control his temperament, and runs away - eventually discovering that his father has been in another relationship for over six years, and has a child.

After impressing in training, Jamie regains his place back on the team. He shows a fine example of sportsmanship, after stopping a certain goal to bring notice to a serious injury to Ollie Walsh, a member of the opposition team. Ollie's father is Tony Walsh, the chairman of Hawkstone United, and, in return for his good deed, Walsh offers Jamie the chance become a mascot for Hawkstone United, who, traditionally, takes three penalties against the Hawkstone United goalkeeper, Leon Tibbs. Whilst Jamie misses his penalties, he scores an overhead kick, bringing the whole stadium to their feet.

Subsequently, he officially changes his surname from "Reacher" to "Johnson", as he feels that he has far stronger affiliation to his mother and grandfather's side of the family.

Series 2 (2017)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.K[2] viewers (millions)
4	1	"Hero to Zero"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	5 April 2017	182,000
5	2	"Anger Management"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	12 April 2017	N/A
6	3	"The Scout"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	19 April 2017	N/A
7	4	"Trial and Error"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	26 April 2017	203,000
8	5	"The No-Boggy"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	3 May 2017	249,000
9	6	"Watch Me Fly"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	10 May 2017	176,000
10	7	"Dad Trouble"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	17 May 2017	310,000
11	8	"They Think It's All Over"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	24 May 2017	219,000
12	9	"Second Chances"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	31 May 2017	184,000
13	10	"End Game"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	7 June 2017	291,000

Plot Overview

With his overhead kick becoming a viral video, Johnson begins to see himself as a celebrity. However, his arrogance almost costs his team their place in the regional tournament after he misses a "panenka" penalty.

Jamie discovers that there is friction between his granddad, Mike Johnson, and his coach, Hilary Hansard (Brian Bovell), due to the fact that Mike unintentionally ended Hansard's career due to a bad tackle, when they were both promising, youth footballers. Having heard this story, Dillon Simmonds (Patrick Ward) and Harry Hansard (Theo Chapman), the grandson of Hilary Hansard, the coach, pressurise Jamie, attempting to fuse his temperament, which would see him be suspended and kicked out of the team. As a result, Johnson strikes up a rivalry with Simmonds.

After impressing in a match, Dillon gains a place in the Hawkstone Academy at the expense of Johnson. After deliberately injuring Harry Jamie is suspended from school for a week and forbidden from attending training.

Having returned from his suspension, Johnson single-handedly carries a weak Kingsmount team to victory in the quarter finals. Most of whom were tired from a party held the night before. This party was hosted by Michel Bernard (Kiran Krishnakumar), son of Reymondo Bernard (Dan Amin), an extremely talented footballer who plays for Hawkstone. Despite Hansard's contrasting presumptions, Michel's football skills are actually weak, yet Hansard insists on playing him outfield in the team - much to the shock of Jack (Lenna Gunning Williams), who was desperately trying to showcase her talents outfield. Jack suspects that Hansard is making her work much harder, just because of her gender.

Ian Reacher (William Fox), Jamie's father, returns, and claims that he has a mate at Hawkstone who can get Jamie a trial. This turns out to have been a lie, and Jamie loses trust in his father again. It is soon mentioned that Hawkstone were considering offering Jamie a trial, but refused due to his temperament.

In the semi-finals, Kingsmount are defeated by Westfield High School. However, after reviewing footage, Boggy discovers that their opponents were cheating, fielding an ineligible player. The semi final is replayed, and Kingsmount win.

Michel and Jack develop feelings for each other, much to Jamie's jealousy. However, after Michel's father suffers a serious injury in a Hawkstone match, attended to by Michel and Jack, and Jamie, Mike and Jeremy (William Andrews) (who was attempting to bond closer with Jamie), the Bernards fly back to France, leaving Jack heartbroken. She flees school in a hope to bid him farewell, but fails to do so and is given a detention.

Meanwhile, Boggy appears to have fallen in love with a girl, named Nancy (Ellie Daley), through a dating app. They agree to meet, however, the date is soon discovered to have been a set up by Dillon Simmonds, pretending to be Nancy (who is his cousin), and Harry Hansard, who film and mock Boggy sitting alone. They post the video online and it becomes popular. Although enjoying it at first, the captain of Thornlake, Kingsmount's opponents in the final, Jethro Stevenson (Miles Wallace), blackmails Dillon Simmonds - stating that, if he doesn't throw the final, he would show the video to the Hawkstone Academy manager (Steve Wood), which would almost certainly result in Dillon being thrown out of the academy, as they have "zero tolerance on any bullying".

The final is held at St. George's Park, and Kingsmount face Thornlake School. After a horrific start, primarily due to Dillon deliberately not trying, Hansard gives the team a tense team talk. Dillon admits to Jamie and Jack that he was blackmailed. They convince him to deal with the situation afterwards, and to play to the best of his abilities in the second half. As a result, Kingsmount stage a remarkable comeback, forcing the game to be decided through a penalty shoot-out. Kingsmount are victorious, after Jamie scores the winning penalty. The series ends with Jamie being offered a place at Foxborough academy.

Series 3 (2018)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.K[2] viewers (millions)
14	1	"Dream Academy"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	5 April 2018	150,000
15	2	"Get Up 8"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	12 April 2018	230,000
16	3	"The Scorpion"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	19 April 2018	222,000
17	4	"Heart Breaker"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	26 April 2018	260,000
18	5	"Stiff Competition"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	3 May 2018	179,000
19	6	"The Wrong Path"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	10 May 2018	252,000
20	7	"Going Bad"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	17 May 2018	149,000
21	8	"Out of the Game"	TBA	Shaun Duggan	24 May 2018	193,000
22	9	"Judgement Day"	TBA	Shaun Duggan	31 May 2018	166,000
23	10	"End of the Line"	TBA	Shaun Duggan	7 June 2018	384,000

Plot Overview

Jamie's father reappears, homeless, becoming temporarily reliant on Jamie for accommodation and food. Due to financial reasons, Kingsmount and Westfield High merge into one school, and rival players are forced to meet in the same school. However, in the first round of the match, they are without Jamie, who is at his first session with Foxborough. Kingsmount are defeated the school football team is disbanded, forcing Marshall along with the other players to create their own club, "Phoenix F.C." Notable new faces from Westfield include a short tempered new female player, Zoe Moore (Maddie Murchison), Jethro, who had moved from Thornlake to Westfield High after the final, and an enthusiastic yet slightly immature goalkeeper, nicknamed Wozza (Jermaine Johnson).

Boggy decides that it is time for him to move on from just being a mascot, and sets out as chief scout for Phoenix. Both Dillon and Jethro are dropped from Hawkstone academy due to their attitude. In an attempt to raise funds for a new kit. Marshall holds a fundraiser, which all of the players and their parents, including Ian Reacher, attend. However, all of the money raised is stolen. Almost all of the players, including Jamie's friends, suspect that it is Jamie's dad who stole the money, when, in actual fact, it was Zoe Moore who was envious of Marshall's previous success in winning a competition to train with the England women's national football team.

The money is returned and Jamie's dad is proven innocent. However, seeing their suspicions of his father as a betrayal to him, Jamie turns his back on his friends to hang out with Jethro. However, events take a sour turn. Detentions turn into arrests, after Jamie and Jethro commit crimes; theft of a bike and arson. Jack makes no effort of hiding her disgust for Jamie's behaviour and claims she doesn't even like him anymore.

Despite contemplating whether to release him as a result of his behaviour, Foxborough decide to give Jamie another chance at their academy, under the condition that he plays for no other clubs, including Phoenix. This is a huge blow, as Phoenix would have been gained the sponsorship of a major company, named "Tenjin" had Johnson been on the team.

Meanwhile, Jack and Zoe go head to head in a trials day for a place at Archfield Women's Academy, whilst Jamie attempts to help Boggy get Phoenix's sponsor back on board, albeit with difficulties. Whilst Zoe is overlooked, Jack gains a place at the academy, with the con of having to leave Kingsmount.

In the series finale, Jamie decides to play for Phoenix rather than Foxborough as it brings the best out of him. The team subsequently gain the investment of "Tenjin". Jamie bids Jack farewell on good terms.

Series 4 (2019)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.K[3] viewers (millions)
24	1	"Field of Dreams"	TBA	TBA	11 April 2019	190,625
25	2	"Hidden Talents"	TBA	TBA	18 April 2019	281,011
26	3	"Catch"	TBA	TBA	25 April 2019	268,020
27	4	"Some You Win"	TBA	TBA	2 May 2019	272,092
28	5	"Son and Heir"	TBA	TBA	9 May 2019	282,750
29	6	"A Friend in Need"	TBA	TBA	16 May 2019	262,082
30	7	"The Anniversary"	TBA	TBA	23 May 2019	263,716
31	8	"Matchmaking"	TBA	TBA	30 May 2019	195,572
32	9	"Pressure Point"	TBA	TBA	6 June 2019	171,613
33	10	"The Lost Boys"	TBA	TBA	13 June 2019	244,953
34	11	"Phoenix Reunited"	TBA	TBA	20 June 2019	183,808
35	12	"Game of Two Halves"	TBA	TBA	27 June 2019	173,521
36	13	"Fair Play"	TBA	TBA	27 June 2019	316,087
37	14	"Special Episode: The Real Gothia Cup"	TBA	TBA	29 June 2019	142,061

Plot Overview

Whilst Jamie is initially haunted by the absence of Jack's presence, he is determined to make the best of Phoenix FC's new circumstances, as the academy for Northport Rovers, a non-league club, with a new coach named Molly Sinkamba (Thanyia Moore).

Boggy splits up with Nancy, who claimed that was is too invested in Phoenix to care about their relationship.

Problems arise after the introduction of an U12s team, due to misbehaviour, but Alba Osbourne (Elena Cole), a member of the side, helps Mike Johnson, the coach, to motivate the side.

The U14s play their first match of the season, with Jamie taking the captain's armband. They get annihilated, with Johnson's frustration increasing throughout. As a result, he is subbed off by an appalled Molly, who strips him of captaincy, offering it to Dillon Simmonds instead, who has made strides in maturity and respect.

In the U12s team, Liam (Haydn Craven), the younger brother of Dillon Simmonds, is excluded from the club due to homophobia, after a negative influence from his father, who has ordered them to assert themselves.

Ian Reacher is forced to move back into the family home, and Jamie decides to play cupid, in an unsuccessful attempt to make his parents fall in love with each other again.

Seeing Jamie as the star player of Phoenix, Duncan Jones (Glen Wallace), the chairman of Northport Rovers, agrees a deal that would see Jamie playing in China and save Northport Rovers from administration. As a result, he decides that the U14s Phoenix side with compete in the Gothia Cup in order to further showcase Jamie's talent, much to the shock and reluctance of Molly and Mike, who had been told by Duncan that it would have been their choice; and who had explicitly decided U12 side would have a better a chance of winning their respective tournament.

Duncan demands Boggy to find players that would showcase Jamie's talents, in a desperate attempt to force the deal. As a result, the final Phoenix team includes Wozza, Jack, Dillon and Zoe.

The proposed transfer to China is discovered by Boggy, who interrogates Duncan. Duncan denies any involvement and cancels the deal subtly.

The Phoenix U14s play superbly throughout the tournament and reach the Semi Finals, however, are defeated after Johnson purposefully misses a penalty, after feeling it was not deserved. Despite this resulting in defeat, this saved the club from administration, due to the money made from a video of the event being shared all around the world, and Duncan offers Jamie a contract, which would see him called up to the first team of Northport Rovers when he turns sixteen.

The series ends on a cliff hanger, with Duncan deliberately telling Howard Royale (Rhys ap William), chairman of Hawkstone United, that Jamie was "not interested" in signing for them after receiving an enquiry for him.

Series 5 (2020)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.K[3] viewers (millions)
38	1	"Game Changer"	Joe Talbot	Shaun Duggan	7 May 2020	211,010
39	2	"Never Give Up"	Joe Talbot	Jaden Clark	14 May 2020	220,599
40	3	"New Signing"	TBA	TBA	21 May 2020	180,792
41	4	"Visiting Hours"	Sam Talbot	Shaun Duggan	28 May 2020	214,603
42	5	"Star Player"	Joe Talbot	Jaden Clark	4 June 2020	301,453
43	6	"Why Always Me?"	Julian Kemp	Mark Illis	11 June 2020	304,474
44	7	"Cup Final Shock"	TBA	TBA	18 June 2020	271,533
45	8	"Outside the Box"	TBA	TBA	25 June 2020	296,956
46	9	"Pixel Player"	Julian Kemp	Joe Williams	2 July 2020	250,851
47	10	"Equaliser"	Julian Kemp	Diane Whitley	9 July 2020	190,904
48	11	"Results Day"	Julian Kemp	Alison Hume	16 July 2020	174,978
49	12	"Control Halt and Delete"	Julian Kemp	Joe Williams	23 July 2020	166,636
50	13	"Back To Reality"	Julian Kemp	Shaun Duggan	30 July 2020	261,560
S02	S02	"Jamie Johnson: Into E-Sports Special"	TBA	TBA	5 October 2020	N/A

Plot Overview

A year after the events of Series 4, the U16s Phoenix side (which features Jamie, Dillon and Zoe playing a year above their respective groups) face the Hawkstone Academy side in a semi-final clash, following an extraordinary cup run.

Despite winning the match, Jamie seriously injures Archie Royale (Noa Thomas), the son of Howard Royale. Archie develops a disliking to Jamie, and questions why Jamie "turned down Hawkstone", leaving Jamie baffled, as this is something he would never do.

After an investigation, Duncan's cover is blown and it is soon learnt that he deliberately blocked any approaches from Hawkstone for Jamie. As a consequence, Jamie is poised to sign for Hawkstone United, after passing his medical, and participating a smooth interview with Howard Royale. Immediately after being announced as a new signing, Jamie suffers a life-threatening car accident, putting his career into serious doubt.

Despite missing Jamie from the team, Phoenix go on to win the final with a new player, Kat Clayton (Amaya Navarro) being added to the team for further support, whilst at the end of the final, Dillon is offered a trial for Foxborough; the team he supports. Although they were led to believe that the scout for the Hawkstone Women's team was watching, Zoe and Kat are later told that she could not make it. Kat says that this is as a result of the disappearance of her lucky charm - a pendant, which has been stolen by Zoe, having immediately struck up a rivalry with Kat.

The final has a large attendance, including a new arrival, Elliot (Laquarn Lewis), who is being cared for by the two mothers of Alba and Ruby (Zoe Hall). Although it is first assumed that Dillon has a "problem" with Elliot due to his homosexuality, it is actually because due to the stressful nature of the final, and that Dillon is, in actual fact, gay himself. Dillon and Elliot meet to discuss their feelings and experiences. Dillon tells Elliot that he is worried about what will happen if anyone finds out, especially his dad. However, this conversation is overheard by Liam Simmonds, who tells Dillon's dad, whose reaction is one of extreme anger and disappointment. He kicks Dillon out of the house, and Dillon temporarily stays with Alba and Ruby, who themselves are worried, as they fear that they might be replaced by their foster parents. This, however, turns out not to be the case - and they officially get adopted by their two foster mothers.

Jamie's injury requires him to go enter a rehab process, requiring months of effort to regain full fitness before having any chance of playing football again. Annoyed and having seemingly given up on football, he takes up a worrying addiction to gaming. In one of his matches, he faces off against a mystery opponent, under the username "JetPac11".

Meanwhile, Freddie (Keaton Edmund)'s plans for a fun day out (in order to help repair his friendship with Eric and Alba), are scuppered, when Eric brings along a new friend, named Aisha (Leona Sinama Pongolle). Eric claims that they are "just friends", and, having discovered that he has feelings for her, Freddie plans to ask her out, much to Eric's dismay.

As a result of the scouts missing the final, Zoe plans a special all-girls match, to show the Hawkstone scout that there are talented female footballers in the area. Zoe subtly returns the pendant to Kat, but Kat immediately suspects Zoe had stolen it, and forces her to admit it. Regardless, she forgives her, and, after impressing in the match, they are both offered places on the Hawkstone women's team.

Jamie becomes reliant on Boggy to help him qualify for a major eSports tournament, much to his mother and grandfather's concerns. Boggy agrees to help, and they succeed in qualifying. However, Jamie becomes further reliant, causing Boggy to realise that he is juggling too many tasks; Freddie asks him to film a blog, Alba pressures him to get his tactics right for the U13's crucial relegation decider, and, as a perfectionist, he is nervous about receiving his Maths A-Level results, despite the fact that he took them two years early. Boggy has a major panic attack due to being overloaded with work, causing extreme stress. He recovers smoothly, and discovers that, contrary to what he predicted, he passed his exam with a C. He took this a positive, calling it a "warm-up" for the real thing. His mental health improves gradually.

The U13s' relegation decider is dominated by Eric and Freddie clearly being distracted by Aisha's presence, both trying to impress her. They can only manage a draw; however, results elsewhere ensure that this enough to avoid relegation.

Jamie and Mike attend the eSports tournament, aware that they are missing a rehab session with Hawkstone in the process. They are joined by Jamie's father, who encourages Mike to tell Jamie that he cannot attend due to "him having a cold". JetPac11 is revealed to be Jethro Stevenson, who had turned to gaming after being released by Hawkstone, as seen in Series 3. Both Jethro and Jamie reach the final of the tournament, which is held on another day, at The O2 Arena. Mike informs Jamie that Howard Royle has discovered that Jamie's lies about having a cold and that he is actually at the gaming tournament, and has terminated his Hawkstone contract as a consequence.

Aisha tells Eric that she has discovered his feelings for her, but also realises that damage it is doing to the friendship between Freddie, Eric and Alba. As a consequence, she says that she will take a step back from hanging out with them.

Dillon has second thoughts over joining Foxborough, worrying he wouldn't be able to be himself, as well as the fact that he would almost certainly only be in the Youth Team. After speaking to Karen Johnson and Duncan Jones, Dillon is offered a contract for non-league side, Northport Rovers, which would see him being guaranteed first team football. Dillon contemplates which team he should join. His father, however, is outraged that Dillon would even consider choosing non-league football over Foxborough, a Premier League side.

The day before the eSports final, Mike and Jamie have a confrontation regarding whether Jamie should even attend the final, thus committing his future to gaming, rather than trying to recover from his injury and work his way back to playing professional football. Mike advises Jamie to "get down on [his] knees and beg Howard Royale to give him a second chance", and claims that the "Jamie Johnson [he] used to know would never give in, even if there was a 1% chance of making it, because he wasn't a quitter". He refuses to take Jamie to the O2 Arena, instead attending the final training session for Phoenix U16s, and telling Jamie to find a way to get to London himself. Despite this, Jamie commits to the tournament, claiming that his football career is over and gaming is his priority. His dad happily drives him to London. With just his dad for support, Jamie arrives at a very well attended O2 Arena, and meets his opponent, Jethro, who has a whole group of friends supporting him. The eSports match is extremely tense and close, including a missed penalty from Jamie.

Following a revelation from his daughter Karen Johnson that Jamie’s days at Hawkstone were numbered due to his injury and that Howard Royle was planning to release Jamie anyway, Mike decides to travel up to London to support Jamie in the tournament, much to Jamie's amazement.

At half time, despite not attempt to hide his vexation about Jamie's decision to choose gaming over football, Mike encourages Jamie to "go for it" in the second half of the gaming tournament, if that is what he would rather do.

With the support of his dad and Mike, Jamie beats Jethro, winning the tournament with a surprise 1–0 victory. However, on receiving the trophy, neither Jamie nor Mike look elated; and Mike's previous words; "You've dreamed of becoming a professional football all of your life!" ring around Jamie's head. Despite this, he accepts the trophy, and forcing a smile.

The next day, as the winner of the tournament, Jamie and his father arrive at the airport, due to fly to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, to compete in a worldwide tournament for professional gamers.

As the plane begins to take off, Jamie once again recalls previous advice from Mike and remembers highlights of his football career, including his overhead kick as a Hawkstone mascot, his winning penalty in the Inter-Schools Cup, his impressive performances for Phoenix, and walking out onto the Hawkstone pitch having just been signed. He finally concludes that he has made the wrong decision in prioritising gaming, and he and his dad depart the plane just as the doors are about to close for take off.

Before the final Phoenix U16s match, Dillon's father apologies to his son, and tells him that the choice between which team he should sign for is his, and his alone, and that he will love support him, no matter what.

The team (excluding Jamie and Boggy) are shown that Freddie, Eric, and Alba have designed a "Phoenix U16s Wall Of Legends", commemorating individuals and the team as a whole's success. As the group gather round to see this, Jamie, his father and Boggy (having recovered from his previous panic attack) arrive much to the team's surprise. Jamie makes a public apology, explaining that he couldn't bring himself to go to Amsterdam, thus choosing gaming over football. He remarks that, when collecting his trophy, he realised that he felt alone - and that he needed his teammates. He gives a particular apology to Boggy for his previous ongoing persistence for gaming tactics. With the team still gathered, Dillon gives an inspiring final team talk, in which he comes out. The team express how proud they are of Dillon and offer nothing but respect and support.

Jamie and Dillon have to one-to-one chat, in which Jamie states that Dillon's sexuality doesn't change the fact that he is still "a brilliant footballer, and one of [Jamie's] best mates". They both express how much Phoenix have changed their lives. A large crowd, including Duncan Jones, Liam, Dillon's dad, Ruby, Mike, Jamie's parents, Freddie, Alba, Eric and Jamie all eagerly watch Phoenix U16's last ever match.

After some time, it is revealed that Dillon chose Northport Rovers over Foxborough, due to the fact that he felt far more suited to the club and that he could be himself there. He becomes the first openly gay male professional footballer in British football, and we see him make his debut in the Northport Rovers first team, in their FA Cup 1st Round match against League 1 side, Stanworth Town, much to the support of his all of his family and friends. Dillon instantly impresses, assisting a goal, putting Northport ahead, against all odds. The goalscorer is revealed to be Jamie, who too has joined Northport, having finally regained full fitness after his serious injury, thus putting his gaming career behind him and looking forward to pursuing a footballing career once more.

Production

The series is broadcast on CBBC annually since 2016. Cast members were hired for places on the team from both acting schools and local schools.[4][5] Many episodes of the series feature cameos from current and former players specifically for the show, due to the show being produced by the BBC.[6] Since Series 4, (2019), the production has been taking place in Wales.

During the fourth series, the team competed in the Gothia Cup.[7] Matches filmed for the show were mostly real contests, with the actors from the show competing in the tournament and reaching the event's quarter-final, winning six matches with one loss.[8][9][10] The team arrived in Sweden having never played a competitive game before, and having previously never met some of the cast.[6][9][10]

Conception

The show is loosely based on a series of books created by Dan Freedman about a schoolchild footballer experiencing family issues and playing for the school team.[11] In 2011 the book Born to Play was published as a prequel to the series, establishing the title character, Jamie Johnson, and his estranged parents.[11][12]

References

1. Gorman, Rachel (21 May 2016). "New CBBC drama Jamie Johnson premieres in Nottingham". Nottingham Post. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
2. Weekly top 10 programmes on TV sets
3. Weekly top programmes on four screens
4. "Jermaine Johnson – Jamie Johnson FC on CBBC – Fulham Boys School". fulhamboysschool.org. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
5. "Jermaine Johnson – Jamie Johnson FC on CBBC – Fulham Boys School". fulhamboysschool.org. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
6. "Jamie Johnson Returns". Fabuk Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
7. "Abingdon Prep boys represented at the Gothia World Youth Cup | Abingdon Prep | Leading Oxfordshire preparatory school". abingdon.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
8. "THE FOURTH SERIES OF FOOTBALL DRAMA 'JAMIE JOHNSON' RETURNS WITH STAR-STUDDED CAMEOS". Brit Flix. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
9. "The Real Gothia Cup". 4:13. 27 June 2019. BBC. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
10. "Popular tv show recorded during Gothia Cup – Gothia Cup". Gothia Cup. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
11. "See the first glimpse of the new CBBC series…. | Dan Freedman". danfreedman.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
12. "Jamie Johnson Books | Dan Freedman". danfreedman.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.

External links

• Jamie Johnson at BBC Programmes
• Official website
• Jamie Johnson at IMDb