Defying the Label

Episode Synopsis

Every September, 170 students from around the UK begin a new year of study at National Star. Many live on campus for three years and revel in the specialist teaching, state-of-the-art facilities, end-of-term balls, and more than anything, the freedom of a new life. For these students their time at college is a time for firsts: whether that is their first time crossing the road or their first time playing spin-the-bottle. In the second part of this uplifting series we meet the excitable new freshers embarking on their first taste of freedom, including 20 year-old Dan, who has cerebral palsy and dreams of being a DJ. We’re also introduced to the Overton Gang, a noisy, fun-loving bunch of friends who are the most independent students at college. This group includes the college ‘hottie’ Nicki, who wasn’t born with a disability: at 17 she incurred a brain injury after she drove into a tree on her way to her college prom. Nicki now enjoys her new life at Overton House where the group get up to the usual student high jinx of vodka shots and truth-or-dare. They grow up fast, which can make trips home emotive - as we witness when one of the gang, Josh, opens up to his mum when remembering his teenage life.