Since its 2020 release, we’ve rarely stopped thinking about I May Destroy You, Michaela Coel’s fearless, frank and provocative comedy-drama that explored consent and relationships in a way so rarely seen on screen.

Fans of the show will therefore be delighted to hear that the production team behind I May Destroy You and Such Brave Girls is returning to the BBC with Spent, another dark comedy that will make us question the world around us. This one, however, is guaranteed to change how we think about the highs and extremely low lows of life in the modelling industry.

Intrigued? Here’s everything we know about the upcoming series so far, including the new trailer.

What is the plot of Spent?

Part-inspired by her own experiences in the modelling industry (and the trials and tribulations that come along with it), stand-up comedian Michelle De Swarte stars as Mia, a former catwalk model who is on the run… from herself.

Despite her humble beginnings, she’s become accustomed – possibly even addicted – to the finer things in life. However, she is forced to face a stark reality: her career is over, she’s flat broke and she’s homeless. Pushing 40 and permanently sofa surfing, Mia finds herself with a world-class skincare regime but living on the breadline. Not that she’s prepared to admit that to anyone, not even herself.

Billed as a “high fashion, low funds” drama, the series will follow Mia’s journey of personal renewal, exploring what happens when life forces you to fall from grace – and how to drag yourself back up again. 

Alongside Swarte, the six-episode series stars Juliet Cowan, Amanda Wilkin, Matt King, Jamali Maddix, Karl Collins, Eleanor Nawal and Racheal Ofori.

Watch the official trailer for yourself below:

What is the true story that inspired  Spent?

Born in south London, De Swarte herself was scouted at 19 while working in Segaworld in the Trocadero Centre at Picadilly Circus. Soon after, she moved to New York where she quickly graced the catwalks of all the major fashion houses round the world, including Burberry, Missoni, Tommy Hilfiger, Cartier, Betsy Johnson, Michael Kors, and has featured in fashion spreads for Harpers Bazar, Italian Vanity Fair, i-D and V Magazine. 

Like Mia, De Swarte’s career as a model stopped abruptly and she moved back to London with nothing to show for her time in the industry. 

However, there was a somewhat happy ending. Having to re-evaluate her career, Swarte transitioned to stand-up comedy and acting, where she has since starred as a series regular in Katherine Ryan’s series The Duchess for Netflix and landed her first leading role in Sky/HBO’s The Baby.

When will Spent be available to watch?

Good news: there’s not long to wait. You can watch Spent on 8 July at 10pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. And in the meantime, why not check out our picks of the best BBC dramas to stream now?

Images: BBC