CHAMPION: CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR BBC-NETFLIX DRAMA SERIES

Casting has been announced for drama series Champion which is currently in production for BBC One in the UK and, outside of the UK and Ireland, on Netflix.

Déja J Bowens joins the cast in her exciting TV debut alongside Malcolm Kamulete (Top Boy, Ill Manors), music sensation Ray BLK (also her TV debut), Nadine Marshall (Sherwood, Small Axe), Ray Fearon (His Dark Materials, Beauty and the Beast) and Jo Martin (Doctor Who, Top Boy).

The 8 x 45’ musical drama also stars Kerim Hassan, Adeyinka Akinrinade, Tom Forbes, Genesis Lynea, Karl Collins, Francis Lovehall, Corey Weekes and Rachel Adedeji.

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

Candice Carty-Williams says: "Champion is a celebration of Black music and of a Black family, however fragmented that family might be, and I can’t wait for the world to see their story...

"Since I knew what music was, I’ve loved grime and UK rap and neo-soul, to the point of obsession, and to bring to BBC One and iPlayer in the U.K. and Netflix globally a series that gives these genres of music life and texture is my dream, as is working with some of the best producers and songwriters making music today to create original tracks for the show."

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, Bulla, 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.

Champion 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.