“But you are the shit one”
When ten year-old Josie Johns met her doppelganger, it kicked off a decade of intense and bitter rivalry. Now an adult, Josie is about to confront her double, settle some scores, and take back control of her identity once and for all. Because there can only be one Josie Johns.
“Doppelgänger is exactly the kind of bold, character-driven storytelling we love to see coming through broadcast led writers initiatives. Its the kind of creative risk-taking we’re championing here in the North East – full credit to Alison Carr and Candle & Bell for creating this superb short made entirely with talent from the North East” – Lisa Laws, North East Screen Development Director
Writer: Alison Carr
Director: Zak Harney
Cast includes: Sarah Balfour, Sarah Lewis Obuba, Kylie Ann Ford and Raul Kohli. And introducing Layla and Lola Todd.
Production company: Candle & Bell
DOPPELGÄNGER premiered at the BFI IMAX in London in October 2025. It is due to be available on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in early 2026.
Part of Long Story Short, a talent initiative from BBC Writers designed to give writers, directors and producers the opportunity to take risks, experiment, and make their mark on screen.
Long Story Short is a creative collaboration between BBC Writers; BBC Drama Commissioning; BBC Three; BBC iPlayer; BBC Scotland; BBC Northern Ireland; BBC Wales and our screen agency partners Creative Wales; North East Screen; Northern Ireland Screen; and Screen Scotland.
Header Image: Paul Stephenson/BBC | Behind the scenes photographs from filming, July 2025
Alison Carr 