After a successful first series on BBC iPlayer and ahead of the release of series two, critically acclaimed series Phoenix Rise is back filming 20 new episodes in the West Midlands for a third and fourth series.

Filming has started this week, once again on location in and around Coventry, including some of the city’s iconic landmarks and at former Further Education campus, Henley College. It underlines the BBC's commitment to make more programmes across the UK.

Created by Perrie Balthazar and Matt Evans, Phoenix Rise follows a group of young outsiders who have been excluded from school as they return to mainstream education, form unlikely friendships and learn to navigate school life. The coming-of-age drama centres on six students who meet regularly in a disused boiler room at their school, an abandoned space which becomes their sanctuary.

The majority of the cast from series one and two are returning to the show, including ‘the boiler room six’. Joining them are a group of new young characters who become a key part of compelling new stories.

Sarah Muller, Senior Head of BBC Children’s Commissioning 7+ says: "Phoenix Rise is strongly rooted in the West Midlands and so we’re delighted to see the team return to their Coventry production base. It’s a drama which is not afraid to tackle some of the difficult issues that teens face today whilst also capturing the friendships and humour of teen life."

Perrie Balthazar and Matt Evans say: "Phoenix Rise is back! We couldn’t be more excited to return to Coventry and tell some new and ground-breaking stories for our gang of six outsiders. Expect joy, heartbreak, thrills and jokes as well as the explosive arrival of some new Phoenix Rise pupils, guaranteed to shake up the status quo."

Series two, which will be released on BBC iPlayer in September, follows the students at the start of a new term and marks a fresh start for siblings Billy and Rihanna. There are more high jinks from the group and some of them strengthen their bonds whilst there’s tension between others as they lock horns. Our unlikely heroes continue to face difficult challenges but with an indomitable sense of hope, optimism and fun.

Series two also sees a new character join the group, Summer’s friend Daisy (Eloise Pennycott), a spiky, confrontational newcomer who is not afraid to speak out, but like many of the characters, has her own vulnerabilities.

Phoenix Rise is created by lead writers Perrie Balthazar and Matt Evans and is produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family. Genre Lead is Tali Walters. Mark Freeland is Executive Producer, alongside Perrie Balthazar and Matt Evans. The Producer is Alison B Matthews. The series was commissioned by Sarah Muller, Senior Head of BBC Children’s Commissioning 7+.

Phoenix Rise (series one) is available now on BBC iPlayer. Series two will be released in September.