Isha Kaur plays regular character Zara in the new CBBC comedy series High Hoops, which premiered last month on CBBC and BBC iPlayer, and Isha works with a cast including Darci Hull (Aoife), Ella Summer (Charlotte), Frankie-Jae Simmonds (Nala) and Robert Webb as Mr. Holt, with the show having a BAFTA screening event, which Isha attended, and High Hoops has been announced for a second series. For Isha’s first recurring role and long-term project on screen, she played Anneena in CBeebies’ Biff & Chip with Tilly Kaye (Biff), George Arthur (Chip) and Freddie James (Kipper), and she was in the cast of her first feature film The Runaways in 2019. As well as working on live-action shows, Isha has voiceover experience, playing Frankie in the first two series of the animation Pip and Posy. Speaking with Isha, we found out from her about playing Zara in CBBC comedy series High Hoops, having her first recurring role as Anneena in Biff & Chip and voicing Frankie in Pip and Posy for the first two series.

In CBBC’s new comedy series High Hoops, you play the regular role of Zara, how would you describe your character and can you tell us about the series?

It’s a basketball comedy about a geeky girl Aoife, prone to the odd disaster and has just started at Zara’s school, Midvale High. Zara is a clever character, who is quite funny and quirky. She knows she isn’t popular and isn’t particularly good at basketball so that’s why, along with her friends Nyla and Charlotte, they try to take Aoife under their wing and get her to join their basketball team in the hope to win their first game.

Zara does genuinely want to be friends with everyone, including Jess, who doesn’t share the same sentiment!

How does it feel now the series has premiered on CBBC and BBC iPlayer and how has it been seeing the fan response to the release so far?

It’s such a brilliant feeling to watch the whole thing come together. Most people I know have told me they sat and did a binge-watch the first time on iPlayer and now keep going back for more! It’s so nice to see that our hard work is being recognised. There have been lots of lovely comments about it so it really motivates and gears you up ready for Season 2.

What is Zara like to play and how did you prepare for filming?

Playing Zara has been the most incredible experience. It’s been nice to play a character who is different to me and other characters I have played before. To prepare for filming I learned how to play basketball, which was an experience in itself as I have never had the opportunity to play it before. I also read what my character was like and thought about how I could bring my character to real life. I always read through full episodes first to get my head around what it is about and know what other characters will do. Then I whittle it right down to just my lines. Part of the filming preparation also meant I needed to plan how my school work was going to be delivered but, thankfully, having a tutor on set helped with this.

What is it like working alongside Darci Hull, Ella Bernstein, Frankie-Jae Simmonds, Robert Webb and with the rest of the cast?

I have felt so privileged and lucky to have been in the company of such a wonderful, kind and talented cast. They really were all amazing. They truly made my experience on set one to remember. It was hard work, of course it was, but we had so much fun! The laughter from bloopers and slight deviation from script was always a hilarious moment. Everyone brought something different to the table, which added the exciting mix of characters and personalities. We felt very much like a family and everyone really looked out for one another.

How did you find the experience on set of High Hoops and did you have any favourite scenes/episodes to film in Series 1?

I found the experience on set great. All the cast and crew were great to work with. My favourite episode would have to be Episode 5 because it was great to work on location and I loved the outfits. Episode 9, the pirate party, is another favourite of mine and it was fun to film! I loved everyone being dressed up and I adored my own hair and makeup was the best!

What was it like attending the BAFTA screening event recently and seeing the finished show for the first time?

Being at BAFTA was insane. It was a dream come true. I found it crazy that my face was on this huge screen. I’d heard about BAFTA but never thought I would have any connection to it! Seeing the episodes fully edited was great because it was lovely to see all our hard work come together.

For your first recurring role on screen, you played Anneena in Biff & Chip for CBeebies, what are some of your stand-out memories from this project?

Getting to work with different animals like snakes, stick insects and dogs. I remember how much fun we had trying to find the stick insect, which was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. This was an interesting and sometimes challenging role as most of it was filmed through COVID so that will always be a memory linked to it.

How would you describe Anneena and what did you enjoy most about playing her?

She was a cheery and bubbly girl who loved to be with everyone. She’s very close with Biff and enjoys lots of adventures. Her wardrobe was great! Nothing like what I would wear but so ‘out there’ and reflective of her colourful character.

How much did you know about the Biff & Chip franchise before booking your role and how was it being part of the live-action series?

I used to read the Biff and Chip books in school, so landing this job was really cool. It was brilliant seeing it all come together. I couldn’t wait for the scenes with the dog actually. I always remember him from the books! I enjoyed being part of this series because it was my first long-term job.

What do you remember from filming your first feature film – The Runaways, which was released in 2019?

I can’t remember the details, I was five! I do remember riding a donkey and being guided by Molly Windsor. At the time I didn’t know who it was but I have watched her incredible acting since. We do have it on a DVD though and I have watched it since.

As a voiceover actor, you voiced Frankie across the first two series of Pip and Posy, how was it developing the character over the years and what was it like recording for the role?

I loved doing this voiceover. It was much different than live-action series. I didn’t have any other characters around to bounce off. I remember that being a little weird to begin with. I had an incredible voice director though who joined in every session. He always gave me the line before or set the scene which helped. This started in my home actually; also through COVID. We had recording equipment set up in the house but we eventually moved to the studios. That was a change but another great opportunity to see how these things are done. I started off  very young (in Year 4 of primary school) so playing a five-year-old cat was so much easier than by the time I was 13! I managed but it took lots of practice and hard work.

What did a typical day in the recording studio look like for you when recording as Frankie and what do you feel you’ve learnt from working on a major animated series?

I would usually come to record after school. I’d sit with my mum and we’d talk about the scripts I would do. Then we would go into the recording studio. I’d stand in a booth by myself, which was really weird but I got used to it. The director would be on the screen in front of me on Zoom as he lived in London and we were recording in Leeds. I started during COVID so it was on Zoom from the very beginning. After a brief catch-up with Martin (my voice director), we would get started. One line would take numerous takes but we’d get there eventually. Over time, I realised that asking me to do the line several times didn’t mean I had got it wrong, they just wanted a variety to choose from. I’d have a few breaks depending on how long the session was. I’ve learnt so many skills from doing Pip and Posy, that I will be taking into future jobs with me. I’ve learned that practice makes perfect.

Is there anything you think you will miss most about recording for Pip and Posy?

The people who I worked with. I enjoyed being surrounded by such an amazing crew who were all very happy and friendly. And my mum trying to randomly repeat lines at home. Like when we were cleaning my bedroom, my mum reminded me of one of my first ever lines “Keep or go…. Keep or go?!”

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

My mum first put me into acting when I was three-and-a-half. She wanted me to speak confidently around others and wanted me to speak with clarity. I didn’t really know what would happen when I went into my first audition as I was very young and neither did my mum. Soon after, I got my first job! This was a very exciting experience for me and I quickly knew this is what I wanted to do. We sort of stumbled upon the casting side. Articulate was very new at the time and that’s a real moment of pride for me actually because I have stayed with them whilst they developed into a highly-successful casting agency and have unpicked skills in me that I didn’t know I had! It all started with a three year old joining a drama session to give me confidence and look where it has already brought me.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch and how do you like to spend your free time?

My favourite film would have to be Pitch Perfect or High School Musical. My favourite TV series would have to be Friends because it is so funny. I love playing with my brother in the garden when the weather is nice. I also love to dance. I dance most evenings and love every minute.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share and what are you hoping 2025 brings for you?

I’m hoping 2025 brings new and exciting auditions and opportunities for me. I can’t wait to see what this year holds for my acting career! (I just have to nail down on my school work too, so let’s see!)