[Arneldo]

BBC Three is developing a "glossy and fast-paced" teen soap which it hopes will rival Hollyoaks, according to a report.

The Manchester-based drama, with a working title of Mirror Mirror, is set in a hair and beauty academy and is said to draw its inspiration from US teen dramas. The broadcaster hopes it will lure viewers from Channel 4's teen soap Hollyoaks.

Speaking to Broadcast, BBC Three controller Danny Cohen said: "If we feel they have made the [script] improvements we hope they will, we should get something green-lit over the next few weeks. It will grow over two to three years, which is partly financial but more about creative issues."

The show's producer Ellen Taylor continued: "Mirror, Mirror tells familiar stories about growing up, finding your identity, and love, sex and relationships, but in a very distinctive, visual way.

"Tonally, it is influenced by American teen drama. It is glossier and faster paced [than traditional UK rivals] and we are taking risks with the structure with lots of jumpcuts, flashbacks and fantasy sequences."

A BBC spokesman added: "Mirror, Mirror is one of several teen-focused dramas that we are developing for the BBC Three and Switch audiences. If commissioned it is planned as a 12-part series but it would be wrong to say it is being developed as a soap at this stage."

One source, meanwhile, described the programme as a "soap on speed".

A group of young writers, headed up by EastEnders and Casualty writer Daisy Coulam, will deliver an initial 12x30-minute scripts, with the order expected to increase to 24 episodes by 2012. Production is expected to commence later this year.

DS