As the UK’s first WhatsApp drama series, The Chat played out in real-time over 6 weeks through the world’s most popular messaging platform.

This innovative drama told the story of 4 best friends as one of the women (Heather) navigated her unexpected breast cancer diagnosis.The raw and authentic series saw Heather face the physical and psychological challenges that Breast Cancer creates.

We followed Heather’s story as she figured out how to tell her kids she might not be there for them - adjust to losing her breast - and come to terms with the strain on her marriage.

With a 130 page script featuring 1250 videos, photos, gifs, voice notes and messages sent between the friends.

The characters didn’t always say the right thing, but with Breast Cancer Now woven into the narrative, they discovered the charity’s support services and how important it is to talk openly about Breast Cancer.

In the UK, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes.

Despite this alarming fact, the psychological impact of a diagnosis isn’t spoken about enough. Many women in their forties and fifties suffer in silence, leading to feelings of emotional isolation.

Breast Cancer Now wanted to drive change by normalising open conversation around breast cancer. The objective: to help prevent women with the disease from experiencing feelings of isolation, whilst also positioning Breast Cancer Now as the place to turn to for support.

Building on the charity’s ongoing strategy, the brief was to create an idea that sparked more open conversations around breast cancer.

The Chat took an innovative approach to storytelling. With content delivered straight to people’s phones, it reached its audience in a way they couldn’t ignore, captivating viewers by blurring the lines between drama and reality and making them feel part of the friendship group.

Please find the full script - all 132 pages in PDF format in the media section of this entry.

In the UK, people are known for having a ‘stiff upper lip’, keeping themselves to themselves and not expressing how they really feel. This inherently British trait is ingrained in society and contributes to thousands of women suffering in silence as they go through breast cancer.

Given that 1 woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes in the UK, this is a serious issue.

Often, people in the UK are more comfortable talking about personal matters through messaging, rather than in person. The Chat engaged people on their mobiles and brought to light an overlooked health issue to help those with Breast Cancer by encouraging more open conversation.