The makers of a hugely popular teenage soap opera have been filming in Thanet.

The cast and crew of Sofia’s Diary, which made its debut on the social networking website Bebo in March, have spent the week filming a holiday romance storyline.

Nearly 13 million people tuned into the first series and the drama has proved so successful that it now has a primetime slot on the digital TV channel Fiver.

The episode filmed in Broadstairs and Margate will be aired during the second series, which runs until September.

Rachel Hyde-Harvey, 21, who plays the lead character, said: “It’s been really good, the weather’s been so nice for us and we’ve all had tans and been on the beach which makes a change to shooting in inner-city London.”

Fans of Sofia’s Diary are able to interact with the show by controlling the storyline, with viewers voting to decide which way the fiesty lead character should turn regarding important decisions in her life.

Watch the latest episode of Sofia's Diary>>>

Gerra Freeman, 22, who plays Sofia’s friend Jo, said: “I think it sends out such good messages to young people everywhere.

“You can learn a lot from the things that Sofia and her friends are going through, and the fact that it’s interactive as well means the public can really influence her decisions.”

For a longer interview with the cast of Sofia’s Diary and pictures from the shoot in Margate and Broadstairs, see next week’s Thanet Extra, out on Wednesday, July 9