First image released from Champion, the new drama from Candice Carty-Williams for the BBC

PHOTO: Déja J Bowens as Vita (Image: BBC)

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Champion - coming soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer - has unveiled the first images of the drama’s major players. The new series created by Candice Carty-Williams is a co-production between Balloon Entertainment and New Pictures (part of the All3Media Group) in association with All3Media International for BBC One and Netflix.

Déja J Bowens stars as Vita in her exciting TV debut alongside Malcolm Kamulete (Top Boy, Ill Manors) as Bosco, with music sensation Ray BLK (also her TV debut) as Vita’s best friend Honey. Nadine Marshall (Sherwood, Small Axe) and Ray Fearon (His Dark Materials, Beauty and the Beast) appear as Bosco and Vita’s parents Aria and Beres Champion, with Jo Martin (Doctor Who, Top Boy) as Bosco’s manager Dawn.

The 8 x 45’ musical drama also stars Kerim Hassan (Once Upon a Time in London), Adeyinka Akinrinade (Everything I Know About Love, Top Boy), Tom Forbes (Wolf Hall, Knightfall), Genesis Lynea (Shadow and Bone, Silent Witness), Karl Collins (Attack The Block, Hollyoaks), Francis Lovehall (Small Axe, Death on the Nile), Corey Weekes (Coronation Street, Doctors) and Rachel Adedeji (Dreaming Whilst Black, Hollyoaks).

Champion is the much-anticipated first TV project for Candice Carty-Williams, author of The Sunday Times bestselling novels Queenie and People Person. The show tells the explosive story of what happens when fame collides with family.

Candice Carty-Williams says: "Three years after I dreamt up Bosco and Vita Champion, this brother and sister duo, their family, their friends and their enemies, are about to hit screens across the globe, with a backdrop of all original music. Seeing the cast bring these songs and characters to life and make them their own has been thrilling, emotional and satisfying. I can’t wait for viewers to meet the Champions and fall in love with them like I have."

Rap sensation Bosco Champion is home from prison, and ready to dominate the music industry once more. But when his dutiful younger sister Vita’s own talent is discovered by Bosco’s rival, she steps out of her brother's shadow to become a performer in her own right, setting the Champion siblings against one another and tearing apart the whole family in the process.

A love letter to Black British music set in south London, Champion is a celebration of a sound that has long been the beating heart of our culture. Featuring original music written and produced by some of the leading musicians this country has to offer, singer/ songwriter and BBC Music Sound Of 2017 prize winner Ray BLK serves as Music Executive alongside grime pioneer and BRIT and Mercury Prize nominated Ghetts.

The show is executive produced by Bryan Elsley, Dave Evans and Danielle Scott-Haughton for Balloon Entertainment, Charlie Pattinson, Willow Grylls and Imogen O’Sullivan for New Pictures, Candice Carty-Williams, and by Jo McClellan for the BBC, with Alice Pearse and Tom Lyons leading for Netflix.

The Producer is Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. The first block director is John Ogunmuyiwa – with Adeyemi Michael, Christiana Ebohon-Green and Caleb Femi directing further episodes. Alongside Candice Carty-Williams, other writers include Ameir Brown, Isis Davis, Emma Dennis-Edwards and Edem Wornoo.

Champion is coming soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and, outside of the UK and Ireland, on Netflix across the world.

Source BBC One

April 18, 2023 3:00am ET by BBC One  

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