BBC to launch WW2 Audio Drama
BBC World Service announced this week Purple Heart Warriors, an audio drama podcast. We get to hear Will Sharpe again, hot off of the narration in Apple's Extrasensory podcast.
This space will be updated with links and a trailer when released.
Press Release
The BBC World Service has announced the launch of Purple Heart Warriors, a six-part drama inspired by real events by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Iris Yamashita. The series transports audiences to the fields of World War Two alongside the brave young Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team as they battle to liberate France from Nazi occupation.
Narrated by Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning actor Will Sharpe (The White Lotus), Purple Heart Warriors follows the story of Ken Morioka, played by Akie Kotabe. Ken is transported back in time from Little Toyko in 2024's Los Angeles to the 1940s, and finds himself trapped in his grandfather's body as he enrols in combat training.
The story takes listeners across the globe from downtown Los Angeles to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, then across Europe, culminating in the Vosges Mountains of France. The series weaves historical narrative with contemporary reflections on identity, sacrifice, and belonging.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was a segregated unit comprised of Niseis - second-generation Japanese Americans. Despite some soldiers’ families being labelled enemy aliens and facing the internment in armed camps, the men of the 442nd were known for their bravery, earning over 4,000 Purple Hearts, 21 Medals of Honor, 7 Presidential Unit Citations, and numerous other accolades.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Iris Yamashita, says: “I am so excited to be able to tell the story of the Purple Heart Warriors acknowledging the heroics and sacrifices made by Japanese American soldiers who volunteered to fight for the U.S. in Italy and France while their family members were being incarcerated in prison camps. I wanted to convey the reasons they fought and what they were fighting for.”
BAFTA-winning actor, Will Sharpe, says: "It is an honour to be narrating Purple Heart Warriors, which tells the remarkable stories of the Japanese American soldiers that fought in World War Two. It's a part of history I am personally interested in and I loved working with the brilliant Iris Yamashita."
Simon Pitts, Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service, says: “We’re thrilled to announce Purple Heart Warriors, a six-part World War Two drama series narrated by the Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning Will Sharpe, and written by Oscar-nominated Iris Yamashita. The 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team, was a segregated unit of remarkable Japanese American young men, whose bravery in combat made them the most decorated unit in US military history for size and duration of service. Their story has not been widely known and it’s exciting to be sharing this series with the world.”
All six episodes will be available as a boxset on BBC Sounds from Monday 9 December. On other podcast platforms, the first three episodes will be available from Monday 9 December, with the final three episodes released weekly thereafter. The series will air weekly on BBC World Service radio from Wednesday 11 December.
Purple Heart Warriors is the latest season in the new Dramas podcast feed. It’s the home for original drama and immersive storytelling from the BBC World Service. Previous seasons include Fukushima.
Purple Heart Warriors is directed by Jessica Dromgoole. It is based on an idea by Simon Pitts and produced by Catherine Bailey Productions Limited for the BBC World Service.
About Iris Yamashita
Iris Yamashita wrote the script for Letters From Iwo Jima for Clint Eastwood, which was nominated for 4 Oscars including “Best Picture” and “Best Original Screenplay”. She has also written two mystery novels and is working on her third, with her debut novel, City Under One Roof, garnering nominations for both an Anthony Award and a Barry Award.
About Will Sharpe
Will Sharpe is an English-Japanese writer, director and actor. He made his feature directorial debut with Black Pond which he wrote and co- directed with Tom Kingsley, earning a BAFTA nomination for “Outstanding Debut”. He also wrote, directed, and starred in dark comedy-drama Flowers, which was nominated for a BAFTA for “Best Scripted Comedy”. Will also starred in black comedy series The White Lotus, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
About Catherine Bailey
Catherine Bailey has made feature films for theatrical release including the award winning cult film, Spider directed by David Cronenberg. Her company, Catherine Bailey Productions has won five Sony Radio Academy Awards. Her first book 75 Men, a Shipweck and Me was published in 2024.
About Jessica Dromgoole
Jessica Dromgoole is an award winning Audio Drama director. She was the showrunner of Home Front, the daily drama on Radio 4, and launched and produced Pilgrim, Interrogation, Faith Hope and Glory there. Since leaving the BBC, she’s made work with Hampstead Theatre, the National Theatre, Audible, Audiama and the NHS.
About BBC World Service
BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 41 other language services, on radio, TV, and digital. BBC World Service reaches a weekly audience of 320m (BBC Global Audience Measure 2024).
BBC World Service English is an English-language radio and online network that broadcasts internationally. BBC World Service English reaches a weekly audience of 84m (2024), broadcasting news and current affairs programmes such as Newsday, Newshour, The Newsroom, OS and The Inquiry. It also broadcasts a range of documentaries including People Fixing the World, In the Studio, The Documentary, The Forum, Heart and Soul, and The Climate Question. Recent popular podcasts delivered by BBC World Service English include Love Janessa, The Lazarus Heist, and Dear Daughter, which won the 2022 Podcast of the Year award at the British Podcast Awards. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice.