A RADIO play starring a pair of former EastEnders actors is set to showcase the female members of a Bradford City supporters' group.

Bangla Bantams, to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow, is a drama based on a group of Bradford women becoming members of the City supporters' group of the same name.

The drama, based on a fictionalised family, follows the women's first game at Valley Parade and also their lives.

Its writers, Kamal Khan and Mary Cooper, met existing female members of the Bangla Bantams as part of their research for the script.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Some of the female members of the Bangla Bantams, which has inspired a Radio 4 play Some of the female members of the Bangla Bantams, which has inspired a Radio 4 play

The play's cast includes Nina Wadia, who featured in EastEnders and BBC comedy show Goodness Gracious Me as Farida and Sudha Bhuchar, as Nessa, who used to be in both EastEnders and Coronation Street.

Bangla Bantams was set up to promote and encourage participation by the South Asian community in grassroots football in the Bradford district. Around 50 of the Bangla Bantams' 400-strong members are women.

 

Humayun Islam, chairman of Bangla Bantams, says the 44-minute-long radio play will highlight South Asian women football supporters on a national stage.

He said: "We have been working on it for eight months to a year.

"The play's writers wanted to speak to the ladies of the group. They sent me a script and the drama stars Nina Wadia.

"I have not heard the drama yet. I'm really looking forward to it.

"It's about the women. You don't normally get football and South Asian women together.

"We are showing something positive that football can bring people together. It will show the power of fan engagement.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Humayun Islam, chairman of the Bangla Bantams Humayun Islam, chairman of the Bangla Bantams

"It's just amazing to create an audio drama about women who did not want to go to matches at first, then they went to a City match and they become Bradford City fans.

"I can't believe it. This is amazing exposure for the Bangla Bantams and Bradford.

"It is a massive tick for what we are doing in Bradford.

"The drama is based on real life. The writers spoke to the ladies and got them to tell their stories.

"The play's characters are based on real life. This has not been done before.

"The ultimate thing would be to bring the Bangla Bantams to the big screen with a Bend It Like Beckham-type film."

Bradford City showed their support for the group by previewing the drama on its Twitter account earlier this week.

Bangla Bantams will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, January 27 from 2.15pm.