Jordon Scott Kennedy's YOUTHLESS optioned for TV

6th November 2023

Written by:

Gaynor Mellor, Creative Director

Welcome to a world where the adults act like kids, so the kids must act like adults

Preceding the events of the short film, YOUTHLESS (w/t) is a returning drama series - not yet attached to a broadcaster - that explores "adultification" from the point of view of kids growing up on a forgotten council estate in rural West Yorkshire. This black and white trilogy follows Jud Donlan's life over three summer holidays before entering the adult world. Never has childhood been represented so unflinchingly.

We are overjoyed to be working with Jordon to bring his work to a wider audience. His short film had us hooked from the outset, and we couldn't be happier to showcase this Bradford-based talent who's already making quite the name for himself!

Packed with pathos, humour and taut reality, Youthless is a brutally honest account of creator Jordon Scott Kennedy's own formative years, growing up on Dewsbury Moor Estate.

Series one will be set in the Summer of 2000. While it might have been new beginnings for the rest of Britain, estates across the UK were disconnected, shunned and left to fend for themselves. But for kids on this estate, every Summer is their place to dream and experience what childhood is meant to be, an adventure. At every turn, they are confronted by the looming draw of adulthood and adults who are desperately trying to hang on to their own youth in any way they can find it.

Find out more about Jordon at the other fantastic writers we are working with HERE.

Rollem is the ideal fit for me because of Kay Mellor's incredible legacy and the company's track record of developing new voiced and underrepresented talent ”

Jordon Scott Kennedy - Creator of Youthless

Jordon Scott Kennedy has a great future ahead of him. I thought Youthless (short film) showed tremendous talent and there is an underrepresented audience for this TV project ”

Jimmy McGovern - Legendary UK Screenwriter

Securing Jordon's IP is part of Rollem's commitment to the development of new voices and continuing Kay Mellor's legacy.

This comes as Kay's final stage play, an adaptation of The Syndicate was announced last month, and distribution of her iconic series' Fat Friends and The Chase were picked up by Banijay Rights and Abacus Media Rights respectively.


For further information or press enquiries, please contact Kat Blair (Publicist for Rollem Productions) via kat@katblair.co.uk

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