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BBC drama Doctors – based and filmed in Birmingham – will be exploring gender identity issues this week, in a first for the long-running TV show, the Gay Times reports.

Episode ‘Life Unexpected’, airing on Friday on BBC One, takes a step forward in approaching gender identity issues, as the main character in its 92nd episode struggles with accepting who he is.

The storyline depicts 18-year-old Jamie McCalister – played by Josh Williams – who has always felt he was born a different sex to that assigned at birth. The episode follows Jamie as he approaches Dr. Emma Reid – played by Dido Miles – for help and information.

With an estranged relationship with his father – actor Roger Griffiths – and a recently deceased mother, Jamie can only confide in his best friend Mark ‘Stotty’ Stott, played by rising star Antonio Aakeel.

Actor Josh Williams (right) with Antonio Aakeel, who star in a BBC Doctors episode tackling gender identity issuesSupplied
Actor Josh Williams (right) with Antonio Aakeel, who star in a BBC Doctors episode tackling gender identity issues

The episode follows Jamie as he makes his decision to undergo hormonal treatment. He then meets with Doctor Reid (Dido Miles) who advises he must first talk with his father about the situation before proceeding further.

Speaking about the role, actor Josh Williams said: “When conducting my research, the most important part was that I was able to understand where Jamie was coming from. He has always felt like he was female, which can be difficult for some to accept when
faced with the archetypal expectations linked with being born a male”.

Birmingham actor Antonio Aakeel plays Mark ‘Stotty’ Stott in the special episode of BBC DoctorsHandout
British actor Josh Williams plays Jamie McAllister in the ‘Life Unexpected’ episode of BBC Doctors

Antonio Aakeel, who portrays ‘Stotty’ said, “It was refreshing to read a script about a subject so current of its time. It’s great to play a supportive role to Jamie’s character. Often people forget that their friends are their biggest confidants and real friends wouldn’t judge someone based on their gender identity.”

“To think we live in a world where attitudes towards gender, sex, orientation and  identity can still be so prejudice is shocking– it only means there is more work needed to educate people and drama’s like this are great at highlighting that.”

Birmingham actor Antonio Aakeel plays Mark ‘Stotty’ Stott in the special episode of BBC DoctorsSupplied
Birmingham actor Antonio Aakeel plays Mark ‘Stotty’ Stott in the special episode of BBC Doctors

Episode director Makalla McPherson added: “Josh, Roger and Antonio handled the subject matter with care and humility. They are all very giving actors and embraced the chance to tell a story of many under-represented people in today’s society.

“Gender identity is a subject that is seldom shown on mainstream media and it’s great the BBC are very forward in approaching current and important subject matter. This episode in particular highlights the courage and bravery it takes
when coming to terms with you are – and everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin.”

BBC drama Doctors, based and filmed in Birmingham, is on its 18th series John Rogers / BBC
BBC drama Doctors, based and filmed in Birmingham, is on its 18th series

Life Unexpected, is the 92nd episode of the 18th series of Doctors, and airs on Friday 28th October 2016 on BBC One, at 1:45pm. Following terrestrial broadcast, the episode can be watched here, available until 27 November, 2016.

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