Subotica and Aquarius Films behind romantic series heading to BBC2

The BBC has acquired the Irish drama Mix Tape, which was originally commissioned by Australia’s Foxtel Group.  

Filmed on location in Dublin and Sydney, the drama is co-produced by Ireland’s Subotica and Australia’s Aquarius Films in association with Boat Rocker Studios, which is also the distributor of the title. It is set to premiere on Binge and Foxtel in Australia tomorrow.  

Now heading to BBC2, the 4 x 60-minute series follows a couple, moving between their teenage romance in 1989 Sheffield and their adulthood living on opposite sides of the world as they reconnect through a song from their past.  

Mix Tape stars Teresa Palmer (The Clearing) as Alison and Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas) as Daniel, with Florence Hunt (Bridgerton) and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith as their younger selves. 

It is adapted by screenwriter Jo Spain from the novel by Jane Sanderson and won the SXSW 2025 TV Spotlight Audience Award.  

mix tape

Teresa Palmer and Jim Sturgess in Mix Tape (Image: Foxtel/Binge)

The director is Lucy Gaffy, with Alison Hurbert-Burns, Lana Greenhalgh and Clare Mirabello serving as executive producers alongside David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, Nick Nantell, and Erik Pack for Boat Rocker with Marc Lorber also exec producing. The producers are Aoife O’Sullivan and Tristan Orpen Lynch for Subotica and Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford for Aquarius Films.  

Head of BBC programme acquisition Sue Deeks said: “Accompanied by an absolutely cracking 80s soundtrack, Mix Tape is an enjoyable blend of nostalgia, romance and heartbreak – it really is the perfect summer treat.” 

Senior vice president of global sales at Boat Rocker Studios Patrick Roberts added: “We’re delighted by the strong response to Mix Tape we’ve received from the BBC and our other partners around the world and can’t wait for audiences to discover this unique take on a modern love story.”  

The drama, which will air later this summer, was supported by investment from the Foxtel Group in association with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Screen Australia, with further support from the Finnish Impact Film Fund, Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund and The Post Lounge.  

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