Lead writer Emma Reeves takes us behind the scenes of the CBBC series…

The universe of The Demon Headmaster requires both characters and audience to suspend their disbelief and get on board very quickly with the Headmaster’s extraordinary ability to hypnotise people against their will. Episode 3 gave us a chance to explore some of the questions which came up again and again from our own team during the series’ development…

As these commentaries are supposed to be a look behind the scenes, rather than a PR exercise, here’s a brief but genuine insight into the process of TV development. This version of The Demon Headmaster was originally commissioned as a 5 part mini series, rather than the 10 part version we finally made. When we learned about the doubled commission, I’d written a detailed series outline, multiple drafts of the two opening episodes and a first draft of what would eventually become episode 4 (then episode 3). As we already had a strong sense of where we were going, we decided to keep the existing story arc and use the longer format to explore the world and characters in more depth than we’d previously envisaged.

Although completing the scripts for the extended series was challenging at times, I believe that the 10 part show is much richer and deeper than the 5 parter would have been, and I’m glad we did it. I hope that being honest about the genesis of episode 3 won’t encourage people to see it as “filler”. It’s actually a very important episode for me, one which is vital in setting up the rules of the show and anchoring it (as best we can) in a scientifically plausible world.

When I started writing the episode, we’d been in development for over two years, working with a very small team (just me, CBBC Head of Development Anna Davies and brilliant script editor Cathianne Hall). The writing of episode 3 coincided with the beginning of the expansion of the team as we moved into production. Other voices were added to the mix – producers, directors and of course other writers. Many of whom reiterated the questions we’d been asking ourselves all along…

“But why don’t they just…?”

What would YOU do to fight the Demon Headmaster? Who could you ask for help? He can hypnotise anyone, and if you try to contact authority a switch is flipped in your brain to prevent you telling the truth. At the beginning of episode 3, Lizzie tries calling the police but finds she can only repeat the Headmaster’s pre-programmed phrases. Despite her misgivings about Ethan’s strange behaviour, she’s forced to trust him as he’s the only person she can confide in.

“How do the Headmaster’s powers work?”

Can’t you just refuse to look into his eyes? Lizzie tries this but finds herself compelled to look anyway. Ethan theorises that something in his voice works on a deeper level than consciousness. Can the Headmaster use more senses? Pheromones? Touch? Maybe we’ll explore this in a future episode…

“But is the Headmaster’s regime really that bad?”

An important dramatic question, and one to which the series will return! If Hazelbrook Academy and its incredible results were real, I think many parents, teachers and even students would be signing up. We begin to explore this topic in episode 3, with Sophie’s open-eyed acceptance of the Headmaster’s tyranny in return for personal gain, and the parents agreeing to sign away their children’s privacy and accept the Headmaster’s drone fleet. How much freedom are we willing to sacrifice in exchange for law and order?