The Sleepover Club (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | November 12, 2003 |
| Founder | Andy Rowley (producer) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Children's television series |
The Sleepover Club is an Australian TV series produced by Andy Rowley for Wark Clements and Burberry Production in partnership with Rialto Films, with support from the Pacific Film and Television Commission. It was broadcast on ITV, Yey!, Nickelodeon, and the Nine Network. The series, adapted from the The Sleepover Club book series, was distributed worldwide by Southern Star Sales. Its original run spanned from 12 November 2003 until 21 March 2008.
Season one
The Sleepover Club centers on Frankie and her four friends—Fliss, Kenny, Lyndz, and Rosie—who create a club where they host sleepovers and face typical adolescent challenges. Their main adversaries are the M&Ms—Matthew, Marco, and Michael—who often interfere with the girls' plans. In addition, two wealthy girls, Sara and Alana, try either to join or undermine the club.
Main characters
- Francesca 'Frankie' Thomas (Caitlin Stasey) is the leader of the Sleepover Club. At first, she feels envious of newcomer Rosie but is characterized by her adventurous spirit, determination, and loyalty. As an only child with aspirations of acting, Frankie owns a dog named Megs and secretly harbors feelings for Matthew. Her preferred colour is purple.
- Felicity 'Fliss' Sidebotham (Ashleigh Chisholm) focuses on fashion and has a crush on Ryan Scott. Coming from a divorced family, her mother remarries in the season one finale. Fliss has a younger brother who dislikes the SOC. She can be somewhat self-absorbed; her favourite colour is pink.
- Kendra 'Kenny' Tan (Hannah Wang) is the sporty Chinese-Australian member who dreams of managing Manchester United F.C.. She excels athletically and naturally takes on a leadership role within the group. Kenny lives with her family and shares a close friendship with Frankie. Her favourite colour is orange.
- Lyndsey 'Lyndz' Collins (Basia A'Hern), originally from England like Rosie, is regarded as the kindest member but sometimes displays a quick temper. Passionate about animals and horses, she aspires to operate a horse riding school. She has a twin brother named Michael and an older brother called Tom. Lyndz forms a strong friendship with Rosie; her favourite colour is green.
- Rosie Cartwright (Eliza Taylor) dreams of becoming a journalist like her father. She is the most intelligent and often sassy member of the group, known for her pranks and problem-solving skills. After her mother’s passing, she lives with her father and brother. Rosie has a crush on Tom and becomes best friends with Lyndz. Her favourite colour is yellow.
Recurring characters
- Matthew McDougal (Ryan Corr) leads the M&Ms group. His mother is acquainted with Fliss' mother, which allows him to gather information about SOC activities covertly. He also befriends Fliss’ younger brother Callum and appears to have feelings for Frankie.
- Marco de Peiri (Stefan La Rosa) is considered the most amiable of the M&Ms and occasionally divulges their schemes. He develops an interest in Fliss and shows a hidden kind side.
- Michael Collins (Blake Hampson), Lyndz's twin brother and part of the M&Ms, opposes the SOC but cares deeply for his sister, occasionally displaying moments of kindness.
- Sara (Annaleise Woods) seeks to dissolve the SOC. A classmate of Frankie’s, she is referred to as Sara Tiara by club members.
- Alana (Ashleigh Brewer) is Sara’s obedient companion, nicknamed Alana Banana by the SOC members. She lacks intelligence and follows Sara’s lead without question.
- Ryan Scott (Craig Marriott) has been Fliss’ long-time crush and imagined future spouse. He counts Wolf (Lindsay Farris) and Dim (Eamon Farren) among his friends.
- Mr. Stephanopolous (Vince D'Amico) owns the Beach Hut Café, which serves as a central meeting place for the SOC, M&Ms, Sara & Alana alike. The SOC once helped prevent its closure. Known affectionately as Mr. S, he possesses a playful sense of humor and has a niece named Nina (Sarah Attalah).
Season two
After a three-year interval, 16-year-old Frankie relocates due to her father's job advancement, taking the SOC notebook along. She spends a week with her cousin Charlie, who is finding it difficult to manage her social commitments. Frankie passes on a new SOC notebook to Charlie, who, together with Tayla, Maddy, Jess, and Brooke, establishes their own SOC group. The primary adversaries are known as 'The Blockheads': Jason, Simon, and Declan, with support from Krystal and Caitlin, who disrupt the club's activities.
Main characters
- Charlotte 'Charlie' Anderson (Morgan Griffin) serves as the leader of the second-generation SOC. An only child raised by caring parents, she is Frankie's cousin and has been best friends with Maddy since their early school years. Charlie, an aspiring journalist, harbors feelings for Jason and draws inspiration from Frankie’s example in the first season.
- Tayla Kane (Rachel Watson) is style-focused and influenced by her psychic pen pal Zodiac Zoey. Living with her family and younger sister, she was motivated by Fliss from season one.
- Madeline 'Maddy' Leigh (Emanuelle Bains) is competitive and athletic, excelling in basketball and surfing. She is academically strong in science and has been Charlie’s closest friend since kindergarten. Her character was inspired by Kenny from the initial season.
- Jessica 'Jess' Philips (Monique Williams) is an artistic and reserved African-Australian girl living with her family. She shares a close friendship with Brooke and was inspired by Rosie from season one.
- Brooke Webster (Katie Nazer-Hennings) enjoys photography, technology, and has a passion for animals. She has a stepbrother named Simon from the Blockheads and is best friends with Jess. Her character takes inspiration from Lyndz of the first season.
Recurring characters
- Jason Block (James Bell) acts as the mastermind behind the Blockheads’ schemes, often planning for his own advantage. He opposes the SOC and secretly harbors affection for Charlie, his childhood friend and neighbour.
- Declan (Shannon Lively) is Jason’s less sharp accomplice who follows him mainly for amusement.
- Simon Webster (Nathan Coenen) plays the role of chief trickster, influenced heavily by his stepsister Brooke. He collects gossip from Brooke to relay to Jason.
- Krystal Beasley (Julia O'Connor), nicknamed 'Beastley' at school, frequently tries to expose SOC secrets. Spoiled and domineering, she occasionally collaborates with the SOC girls when it suits her interests.
- Caitlin (Ruby Hall) is Krystal’s devoted best friend who is often manipulated into carrying out Krystal’s wishes, earning sympathy from the SOC members.
Production and filming
The original series was filmed at Varsity College on Queensland’s Gold Coast, showcasing famous coastal locations that emphasize the area's charm. For the second series, production moved to Perth in Western Australia, utilizing prominent landmarks such as Fremantle Prison and Hillary's Boat Harbour.
Broadcast history
- Nine Network (Australia: 12 November 2003 – 21 March 2008)
- CITV (UK: 2004)
- Nickelodeon UK & Ireland (2004–2008)
- Pop Girl (UK: 2009–2013)
Media and DVDs
Both seasons were issued on DVD, each set comprising all 26 episodes. The first season was released in early 2007, with the second season following in late 2008. Blackhorse Entertainment managed distribution for both Region 2 and Region 4 territories.
| Title | Region 2 Release Date | Region 4 Release Date | Number of Episodes | Distributor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sleepover Club: Series One | 5 March 2007 | 8 January 2007 | 26 | Blackhorse Entertainment |
| The Sleepover Club: Series Two | 9 November 2008 | 1 October 2008 | 26 | Blackhorse Entertainment |
Australia VHS releases
- Village Roadshow Australia (2004)
| VHS Title | Release Date | Studio | Included Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sleepover Club – Episodes 1-7 | 2004 | Village Roadshow Australia | Perfect Match, Scary Movie, Beach Hut, Fearlotto, The Great Debate, Happy Birthday Rosie, Starring |
| The Sleepover Club – Episodes 8-13 | 2004 | Village Roadshow Australia | Makeover, Changing Rooms, Swim Carnival, Car Wash, Outdoor Trip, Fight for Kenny |
| The Sleepover Club – Episodes 14-19 | 2004 | Village Roadshow Australia | Bad Things Come in Threes, Election, Shoot to Win, Horseback, Family Ties, Agony Aunt |