Produced by the award-winning Mindhouse Productions (Louis Theroux Interviews, Lockerbie, Gods of Tennis) and from the BAFTA winning producers Louis Theroux and Nancy Strang, the three hour-long episodes will dive into pop culture in the 90s and 00s, telling the tales behind the success of some of the UK and Ireland’s most celebrated popstars, who were idolised by millions of pop fans around the world. Each episode will follow the life changing reality of new-found fame at a young age, from their early beginnings to hitting the top of the charts, whilst revealing some of the pivotal behind-the-scenes moments that shaped their careers and reflecting on those times decades later.
The series will feature searingly honest interviews with the artists themselves, who share their experiences of the boyband phenomenon, including Robbie Williams (Take That), Brian McFadden (Westlife), as well as members of East 17, Blue, Five, 911 and Damage.
Across the episodes, the series will hear from the music label bosses and band managers that managed their ascent to fame, including Simon Cowell (RCA Records) Nigel Martin-Smith (Take That), Louis Walsh (Westlife), Daniel Glatman (Blue), Chris Herbert (Five) and Steve Gilmour (911), as well as those close to the band members, music industry insiders, presenters, and journalists who followed their stories in an age before social media.
Together with their testimony, rich archive from the time and the music that was so adored by millions of fans both in the UK and around the globe, it promises a nostalgic journey and a thoughtful look at the cultural landscape it emerged from.
- Watch Boybands Forever on BBC iPlayer and add to your Watchlist now
- Watch Boybands Forever on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Saturday 16 November at 9.15pm.Â
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