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Boarding School Bomber - a unique perspective

Boarding School Bomber tells the story of Andrew (Isa) Ibrahim, a private school boy from a Christian middle-class family who would have taken his own life and that of many others were he not reported to the police by his Muslim community. Broadcast on Monday 20th November BBC3, 9pm (and repeating on the 23rd and 28th) the programme combines CCTV and internet propaganda with intimate interviews and dramatised story telling.

Within this powerful and moving docu-drama, lies a shocking truth that flips audience expectation on its head. Born of an Egyptian father and English mother, Andrew struggled to find his identity. He finally felt included when he joined the Islamic faith, but drawn in by the words of Al Qaeda he began to plot his ‘destiny’, as a ‘soldier’ and suicide bomber. Where friends and family were unable to see the atrocity ensuing, Andrew’s local Muslim community stopped him by tipping off the police before it was too late.

It is not only the story told that challenges expectations, but the unique route to commission. Boarding School Bomber started life as a police training film, Conviction, produced by corporate production company Omni to tackle violent extremism. Despite its roots, the texture and intimacy of Boarding School Bomber feels far removed from a classroom exercise. It was the skilled direction and impressive talent demonstrated in Conviction that caught the attention of Samantha Anstiss, Commissioning Executive for Documentaries.

Samantha had to adjust her own expectations when a twenty minute training film was brought to her, but happily remained 'open-minded and alert to ideas no matter where they come from - as great ideas can come from unexpected places. Key is to make sure the company is provided the right support to then realise the idea into compelling television’. Like the film’s producers, she felt a need to answer the question of why a young man from an apparently ‘normal’ background become a violent extremist.

Boarding School Bomber was a first for Omni, a production company that had to date specialised in corporate films. Executive Producer, Rachel Drummond-Hay describes the transition from training video to BBC Three docu-drama as an ‘amazing, steep learning curve’. Not just with regard to production, but the different legal and compliance considerations that come with a television commission. Omni navigated this new territory with commissioning executive Samantha Anstiss’ help who they describe as ‘extremely supportive - knowing immediately what our strengths were, but also where we needed to bring in additional experience'. Having seen other training films produced by the independent, Samantha was aware of their potential to create ‘beautifully composed’ pieces, but wanted to provide the necessary support to make that transition to a longer narrative piece. Part of that support was introducing freelance Producer Director Susannah Price to the project who brought with her significant current affairs and documentary experience.

‘It has been a powerful demonstration of what can happen when people from different genres collaborate’, says Samantha Anstiss. The Documentaries Commissioning Executive took a risk when she commissioned an hour long programme based on a twenty minute corporate training video. At the point of commission it was aleap of faith as vital interviews were yet to be secured and an hour’s high quality drama had to be produced within a documentary budget. Omni’s dedication and perseverance made this possible. The result is a captivating docu-drama that, like BBC Three has ‘youth at its core, but its appeal is unquestionably broad’ (Samantha Anstiss). Like its content, the programme will undoubtedly provoke debate between generations, religions and classes, online and offline.

Find out more about Boarding School Bomber on BBC3

Find out more about Omni Productions