UCA stars in
Heartstopper

Heartstopper Season 3 has returned to our screens and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) can exclusively reveal what happened when Heartstopper came to film at its campus.

03 Oct 2024

Heartstopper, Season 3 at UCA. Image courtesy of Netflix

For a limited time, UCA’s Farnham campus was transformed into the Lambert School of Art – where one of the show’s main characters, Elle (Yasmin Finney) is a student.

Heartstopper Season 3, behind-the-scenes filming at UCA

Working with See-Saw Films on the Netflix hit show, UCA saw its illustration department turned into an art studio, green room, and staging area, its music studios became a radio station, while its central quad and a mural by MA Fine Art graduate Olawafemi Babalola were backdrops to scenes with the show’s stars.

Alice Oseman, the author of the graphic novel series of the same name, on which Heartstopper’s based, told Netflix:

‘While Heartstopper will always celebrate the joyful and point towards hope, I’m really excited that we are allowing the tone of the show to mature alongside our beloved characters growing up. Mental health, sex, university ambitions, and more.’

Heartstopper Season 3 at UCA. Image courtesy of Netfllix

Tao Xu, played by William Gao, joined Elle in scenes shot at UCA, which also included scenes with her parents and new friends from Lambert School of Art – Naomi, played by Bel Priestley, and Felix played by Ash Self.

Bel told Attitude magazine, ‘I think Heartstopper is great at breaking boundaries, and I think they’re just doing it better and better.

 “To focus so much on the joy that can come with being trans in the community is so refreshing,” added Ash.

Other beloved characters who appeared in scenes shot at the University included Charlie (Joe Locke), Nick (Kit Connor), Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), Tara (Corinna Brown), and Isaac (Tobie Donovan).

UCA film student working on Heartstopper Season 3, behind-the-scenes filming at UCA

UCA students also got an opportunity to get involved with the production, working as supporting actors and assisting the production team.

Ffion Austin, an acting student said: “I found the experience surprising – I wasn’t expecting it to be so friendly and chilled. When you’re not filming your sitting with people and making new friends. I now know what to expect and how to approach the industry in the future – how to prepare, relax into it, and not worry.”

UCA support actors working on Heartstopper Season 3 at UCA

You can watch Season 3 of Heartstopper on Netflix now and tune in to episodes 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 to see UCA’s starring role!