Young Actors Brave Malaysia for 'Lord of the Flies' Drama

A new BBC drama, 'Lord of the Flies,' brought William Golding's classic novel to television for the first time, with filming taking place in Malaysia. Over 7,000 boys initially applied for a chance to be part of the production. Thirty selected boys, ranging from five to 12 years old, spent several months on a remote island off Langkawi, facing challenging tropical conditions.

Their experience was an adventure, filled with unique encounters. The young actors swam in the sea, explored jungles and waterfalls, and even dealt with opportunistic monkeys stealing their food. Fred Jones, aged seven, recounted a monkey pilfering his breakfast, while Beau Thompson, eight, shared a similar tale of a dusky leaf monkey taking his banana. These wildlife interactions were part of the daily reality.

Beyond the acting, the boys learned valuable life lessons and skills. Beau Thompson learned to swim and dive, while all the children developed a deeper understanding of acting by observing each other. Blake Williams, 14, noted forging "friends for life" and described the experience as "mind-blowing" and "once-in-a-lifetime." The young cast had no adult actors to guide them, learning to embody their characters through their actions and interactions.

Director Marc Munden aimed to capture the boys' natural behavior, with many not realizing they were being filmed at times. Rafael de Belligny, 13, enjoyed exploring Langkawi's impressive waterfalls and building forts with friends. The filming, which took place during the summer and autumn of 2024, concluded with the boys often celebrating by jumping into the hotel pool. All episodes are now available on BBC iPlayer, with the series also airing on BBC One.