BBC Three announced last week,“The Idris Takeover,” described as “a unique and ground-breaking season” of content created and curated by Idris Elba for the network, kicking off Monday, March 27.
The week-long collaboration will include comedy, drama, music and documentary, as Elba works with some of the best new and emerging talent in all fields, tackling issues that are relevant to young audiences today, telling the stories of young people from a modern and diverse Britain.
The season – produced by Elba’s Green Door Pictures production company – will be available across BBC Three’s various platforms – the iPlayer channel, YouTube channel and BBC Three’s website.
“There’s a part of me in every aspect of this season; comedy, drama, documentary, sport all made by a truly diverse team both on and off screen,” Idris Elba says.
Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three adds: “Idris is passionate about giving opportunities to new and exciting talent, as is BBC Three. As well as being able to provide a platform to those on and off screen, we’re passionate about telling stories for young people, made by young people. ‘The Idris Takeover’ is a unique collaboration which I know our audience will enjoy.”
And Ana Garanito, Head of Scripted, Green Door Pictures says: “The BBC Three curation is such a unique and exciting opportunity for Green Door Pictures to showcase new and emerging talent as well as tell engaging and sometimes untold stories. This is at the heart of the Green Door DNA which are a shared set of values with BBC Three, so we are beyond excited to be building this curation with them.”
The week-long celebration of new and emerging, young and diverse talent includes the following programming:
Comedy
“Romesh: Comedians In Pubs Talking Comedy”
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan presents these six hilarious comedy shorts with some of the UK’s most loved comedians, including Jack Dee, Sharon Horgan, Russell Howard, Jayde Adams, Humza Arshad and Tim Renkow. In these one to one, frank and funny conversations, they discuss their earliest memories in their comedy careers – from show flops to patronising fans and facing their fears through an engaging, empathetic and relatable pub chat.
Drama
“Five By Five”
Five writers. Five characters. One story.
Idris Elba stars in BBC Three’s “Five By Five,” a series of short films from new writers featuring new on-screen talent working alongside established on-screen talent. Set in London, the five standalone films feature chance encounters people face which question identity and change perception.
Sports
“Moses: Strong Man”
Nigerian born Moses Adeyemi has had a tough upbringing. Raised by his aunt, at the age of 16 he became embroiled in a world of crime. After being convicted, he turned his life around to become a personal trainer. Now drawing on his own experience, he helps people cope with life trauma through mental and physical training. In this film, we follow his journey, discussing his own experiences and how that has shaped him as a dad, and watch as he trains Emmanuel, a young man working through his issues and striving for a better life.
“Amazing Humans”
As part of BBC Three’s “Amazing Humans” series, three new inspiring stories:
“Wheelchair Boxing”: A split second decision led to disaster and depression for Marcus Perrineau-Daley. Now a paraplegic boxer and weightlifter, he aims to get para-boxing in the Olympics by 2020, all while training others with disabilities.
“Lady Line Backer”: Years of eating disorders, coupled with an abusive relationship eroded Zoe Johnson’s self-confidence. Through American football, she found her confidence again and now plays as the only woman on an all-male American Football team.
“From Child Soldier To Jockey”: When he was young, Abdul Kareem Musa Adama used to like riding horses on the family farm and looking after the cattle. After his family were killed and the farm destroyed in an attack, rebels tried to force him to become a child soldier. Now, years later his love of horses is helping him rebuild his life as he learns how to become a professional jockey.
Music
Music Video
Music mogul and entrepreneur Jamal Edwards has worked with new and emerging MC’s and artists from across the UK to create a brand new track and video, produced by up and coming producer Komenz. The finished product will see C-Cane (London), Shogun (Scotland), Truemendous (Birmingham), Berna (London), Eaton (Wales), Alika (London) and Olivia Louise (Chester) as they work together on a collaborative track on the theme – “inspire.”
“Shogun” Documentary
This documentary, focuses on Joe Heron AKA Shogun, a 19-year old MC from Paisley, Scotland, who with no connections but plenty of talent and who has racked up 1.75 million YouTube hits for his brand new track. Heron has gone on to support acts such as Bugzy Malone and Pharaoh Monch.
Factual Documentary
“Working Class Barrister”
How — and why — does a 25 year-old working class woman from an underprivileged background have a burning desire to fight for injustice and enter one of the most traditional, exclusive law professions? We follow Leila Taleb, an aspiring Barrister from Bradford as she struggles to win one of the few scholarships available.
“Seventeen”
Director Mollie Mills already has a fan base who follow her films exploring youth subcultures with a truly mesmerizing visual style. In this one off documentary, she follows five groups of 17 year-olds in Scarborough, and unpicks what their hopes and dreams are in marginalized Britain today. From a young male dancer desperate to escape the council estate and travel the world as a cruise ship performer, to young teens discussing the lack of opportunities available to them and the prejudices they face, this is an open and honest portrayal of the realities facing young Brits today.
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