David McKenna, 12, who plays Piggy in the drama which starts tonight, has an extraordinary real-life tale of hardship and resilience – he has received two kidney transplants after being born with chronic kidney failure. And in a heart-warming twist, it was David's own parents who gave him their organs to save his life. His first kidney was donated by his father, Jim, when David was four – and when that failed six years later, his mother Elizabeth stepped in to provide another organ. But in 2023, when David was ten, Elizabeth donated her own kidney. Since then, David has been continuing his training at the Belfast school of Performing Arts and having singing lessons.

Source: Daily Mail February 08, 2026 07:10 UTC