BBC1 doc looks at UK’s young anti-abortion campaigners

Young people campaigning against abortion rights are under the microscope in a new single for BBC1 from Firecrest Films.

Young, British and Anti-Abortion is an hour-long film profiling the growing numbers of young people campaigning online, on campuses and on the streets to row back abortion rights in the UK.

Presenter Poppy Jay will meet the people waging the campaign to end legal abortion, discovering a movement that is growing in profile, confidence and money.

The film seeks to shine a light on a movement that is growing fast despite being a minority view, with recent polling in Britain finding nearly 90% of respondents stating they were pro-abortion.

Young, British and Anti-Abortion was commissioned out of BBC Factual by Jack Bootle, head of commissioning for specialist factual, and Daisy Scalchi, head of commissioning for religion and ethics. Nicole Kleeman and Vari Innes serve as executive producer, while Jay directs.

Scalchi said: “This is rare and fascinating insight into a subject which fires up strong responses on each side. With her candour, charm and persistence, Poppy brings fresh eyes to the conversation about abortion, focusing on how young people especially are taking to the front line of the debate.”

Jay said: “Immersing myself in the UK Gen Z anti-abortion movement was an eye-opening experience. There was very little common ground and I think the abortion debate, with the way social media is being used as a weapon to polarise views, will continue to be one of the most divisive issues of not just our time but beyond.”