What can you tell us about Champion?

It starts off with Bosco who is the golden boy and Vita, his sister. Vita is being treated like his assistant, being at his beck and call. The series is about her being discovered for her own talents, coming into her own person, finding herself and blossoming into this new person, this new artist.

What is the main conflict of the series?

The main conflict is between the two siblings, Bosco and Vita. They are both artists in their own right trying to fight for their own limelight. But Vita still has this heart for caring for her brother, at the same time she’s trying to balance that with looking out for herself.

Tell us about Vita’s relationship with her mum, Aria.

Vita is really struggling to understand why her mum would never accept her in the same way that she accepts Bosco. It’s heart-breaking for Vita because she is trying to do the most for her mum to make her proud, and see her in the same way but it has never been good enough. I guess in Aria’s eyes it’s sort of justified, but in Vita’s eyes she does not understand why until later on down the line. Later in the series we discover where that comes from.

What makes Champion such a unique series?

I think what makes Champion so unique is the absolute talent behind the music, and the artistry within the series. We had a conversation about how in other series the music can be a bit cheesy – but in Champion just as much effort behind the camera has been put into the production and the music. Candice’s writing is spectacular, the performances are spectacular. I think that is what makes it so amazing, that there are real life artists behind this. The music is just as good as the drama.

What has it been like to sing, act, dance? You wear a lot of hats in this series!

A reason why I really love this project and was drawn to it in the first place is that I feel like myself and Vita are very connected in terms of our stories. A lot of what happens to her in the story has actually happened to me in my own personal life. A lot of things are similar and mirror each other, such as the fact that we are from the same area in real life. I have always sang in church, as part of a choir, but I was never seen as good enough to be the lead or soloist. I have always been ok with being the background vocalist. The fact that I knew this role was going to be a singing role was very nerve wracking for me, but I just felt such a connection to this story. So I thought I would just have to get over this fear, do the audition and see what happens. And now that I am in this series, acting, singing and I am dancing… I never expected that I would be dancing!

What can you tell us about the family in the show?

The main themes are obviously family, I feel like Champion exemplifies the family feud in such a great way. In episode one, it starts off at a family function and it embodies it so perfectly - because I am from Jamaican heritage as well - how an actual Jamaican function would be like. The food, the music, the all-round family warmth is great. It embodies this naturally and truthfully. There is a lot of family conflict but I think that’s due to hidden skeletons in the closet, what they haven’t been able to talk about openly. This series allows us to uncover a lot of family secrets and drama.

What is it like having creator and writer Candice Carty-Williams on set?

The fact that I was in the room with the author of Queenie is crazy. She has so many ideas and she has so much insight into obviously her own work. She knows exactly how she wants it to be embodied and how she wants it to be brought across. Obviously she has been the one living with this idea in her head. That she is able to be on set and give us insight into how she sees things is great because we can collaborate together and make magic.

What has it been like working with the rest of the cast?

I am so blessed to be able to be on set with such a brilliant cast. This is my first ever TV job, so the fact that I get to be with these people on screen - Jo Martin, Nadine Marshall, Karl Collins, Ray Fearon, all such legends in this game.

I remember the first couple of weeks being on set really learning from the other actors, looking at their technique and see how much they really power through their takes. They bring so much experience and joy and laughter to the set, we are all like a family.

What can you tell us about Vita’s relationship with Memet.

Memet is the love interest of Vita. It’s a sticky one because of the relationship he has with Vita’s brother Bosco, and whilst Bosco has been away for a little while that relationship bloomed. When Bosco comes back Vita and Memet have to keep that under wraps. As we get later down the line we see how that unfolds.

If you had to describe Vita’s musical sound what would it be?

I would describe Vita’s sound as organic, it’s natural in terms of the fact that she does not have to try too hard. She is almost meant to be a musical genius, her whole being is music, she loves music. When you see her being her everyday self and when she is thrust into music, they are two different people. In terms of genre I would say modern R&B.

She writes for Bosco so she has to adjust what she writes to his style, to suit how he will be out in the open and how audiences will perceive him because they are their own artists in their own right. But she still slays the Bosco stuff.

I think Vita is definitely inspired by particular people, maybe Brandy, maybe in the modern sense like Cleo Sol - those two infused together.

Who are your top five music GOATS?

Jill Scott, Lauren Hill, Brandy, Biggy and Maurette Clark as well, I love her.

How important is music in Champion?

It’s the crux of the show. Without the music most of the characters would not have a story line. Vita is all about music. Bosco is all about music, Beres is a sort of radio presenter, Memet is a DJ, Honey is a singer - that’s six already. Music is central and so important to Champion, I can’t stress it enough.

What are your favourite tracks in the series and why?

I really love Dancing in my Underwear even if it’s not meant to be a good song, in the show it’s meant to be a really bad song but it’s great. I really love Champion to the World, I know everyone is going to be banging that tune out. You Got it, which is written by Debbie and KZ, and a song by Ray BLK and PRGRSHN called Drowning. There’s loads, all of the songs are amazing.