Acclaimed Scots actor Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, Summer, The Full Monty) will star in Zig Zag Love, the first drama commission to be announced from BBC Scotland and Scottish Screen’s creative partnership to produce independent films for BBC One.

A story of first love and last chances, Zig Zag Love is a bittersweet drama written by Mary Morris (Tracy Beaker) focusing on the blossoming relationship between teenage cancer patient Peter, and Ziggy, a girl with cerebral palsy.

Robert Carlyle plays Jacko, father to Peter, who is played by Anthony Martin (River City, The Wind That Shakes The Barley). Cara Readle (Tracy Beaker) plays Ziggy with Mark Lewis Jones (The Passion, The Commander) taking on the role of her overprotective father Paul.

Zig Zag Love also stars Joe McFadden (The Crow Road, Cranford, Small Faces) as doctor Dan and TV newcomer Kevin Mains as Peter’s best mate Elliot.

Robert Carlyle says: “I was drawn to Zig Zag Love by its interesting and unique subject matter and it’ll be a pleasure to work with Gillies Mackinnon and BBC Scotland again.”

In Zig Zag Love, 16-year-old Peter is terrified he will die before he knows what sex feels like so he hits the road in pursuit of life, liberty and love.

Escaping from the confines of the hospital, Peter goes looking for adventure and joins up with the feisty Ziggy, a girl with cerebral palsy.

As the two leave the city for the Scottish highlands and Peter’s health deteriorates, his fantasy of a first-time sexual experience edges tantalisingly further and further away.

Directed by acclaimed film-maker Gillies MacKinnon (Small Faces, Regeneration, Hideous Kinky), the 60-minute drama is produced by Jane Dauncey for Machine Productions and Executive Produced by Gaynor Holmes (BBC Scotland), Leslie Finlay (Scottish Screen) and Andrea Calderwood (Machine Productions/Slate Films).

Zig Zag Love is a Machine Production in association with Slate North Films. The three-week shoot is currently underway and takes place in locations in and around Glasgow.

Gaynor Holmes says: “It’s so exciting to be working with Scottish greats such as Robert Carlyle, Joe McFadden and Gillies Mackinnon whilst introducing such wonderful new talent as Cara Readle and Anthony Martin. We think the audience are going to love Zig Zag Love.”

Leslie Finlay adds: “It’s testament to the quality and originality of Zig Zag Love that we are able to attract an array of new and established Scottish film talent of the calibre of Robert Carlyle and Gillies Mackinnon to explore Scotland in a fresh and contemporary way. Scottish Screen is thrilled with this new drama commission.”

Jane Dauncey says: “Machine Productions are proud that our first show for Scotland is so unique – both funny and sad – about the crazy muddle of adolescence and the thrill of first love. Mary Morris’s brilliant script made casting a pleasure and when Robert Carlyle, Joe McFadden, and Mark Lewis Jones read the story they were instantly keen to take part.”