Candice Carty-Williams is one of the most exciting voices in UK fiction right now, so if you enjoyed her brilliant debut novel Queenie and inhaled last year’s follow-up People Person, the chances are you’ll love Champion, which marks her first venture into the world of TV.

The eight-part BBC drama explores what happens when fame collides with family, telling the story of rap star Bosco Champion, who has just returned from prison and is ready to return to his place at the top of the music industry. His younger sister Vita, however, has plenty of talent of her own, as Bosco’s rival Bulla soon learns, and when she takes tentative steps out from her sibling’s shadow, it sends shockwaves through the family.

A series of first-look images, exclusively shared with Stylist, give us a closer glimpse at the Champion family, with newcomer Déja J Bowens making her TV debut as Vita, captured mid-performance, and Malcolm Kamulete as Bosco.

Beauty And The Beast and Fleabag actor Ray Fearon will play Beres Champion, with Sherwood and Small Axe star Nadine Marshall cast as Aria and Doctor Who and Top Boy’s Jo Martin as Dawn.

The series, which has been produced in collaboration with Netflix, will see musician Ray BLK make her TV debut as Honey, and the multi-talented star also serves as music executive on the show, alongside rapper Ghetts - because yes, the show features its own original music, which has been written and produced by some of the UK’s best artists (as if you needed yet another reason to tune in). 

“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,” Carty-Williams told Stylist. “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.”

Also in the cast are Kerim Hassan, Adeyinka Akinrinade, Tom Forbes, Genesis Lynea, Karl Collins, Francis Lovehall, Corey Weekes and Rachel Adedeji.

The whole show, then, is brimming with talent. Behind the camera, John Ogunmuyiwa, Adeyemi Michael, Christiana Ebohon-Green and Caleb Femi will be on directing duties, with Ameir Brown, Isis Davis, Emma Dennis-Edwards and Edem Wornoo joining Carty-Williams in the show’s writers’ room. 

According to the BBC, the show is “a love letter to Black British music set in south London” and “a celebration of a sound that has long been the beating heart of our culture”.

Carty-Williams, meanwhile, previously hailed Champion as “a celebration of Black music and of a Black family, however fragmented that family might be”.

“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 in the UK 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.”

So when can we expect Champion to land on our screens? The BBC are yet to confirm a release date, but we do know that it’s “coming soon” to BBC and BBC iPlayer – and it looks like this one will be worth the wait.

Champion is coming soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Images: BBC