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'{{Short description|British Television series}} {{Use British English|date=March 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox television | image = | genre = | creator = [[Candice Carty-Williams]] | based_on = | writer = {{Plainlist| * Candice Carty-Williams * Ameir Brown * Isis Davis * Emma Dennis-Edwards * Edem Wornoo }} | story = | director = {{Plainlist|*John Ogunmuyiwa *Christiana Ebohon-Green *Caleb Femi *Adeyemi Michael }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Déja J Bowens]] * [[Malcolm Kamulete]] *[[Ray BLK]]}} | narrated = | theme_music_composer = | country = | language = English | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 8 | executive_producer = {{Plainlist| * Candice Carty-Williams * Bryan Elsley * Dave Evans * Danielle Scott-Haughton * Charlie Pattinson * Willow Grylls * Imogen O’Sullivan * Jo McClellan }} | producer = Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor | editor = | cinematography = | runtime = | company = {{Plainlist|*New Pictures *Balloon Entertainment}} | budget = | network = {{Plainlist|*[[BBC One]] (United Kingdom) *[[Netflix]] (global) }} | first_aired = {{start date|2023|7|1|df=yes}} | last_aired = present }} '''''Champion''''' is a British musical drama television series created and written by [[Candice Carty-Williams]] for [[BBC One]]. It began airing on 1 July 2023 and stars [[Déja J Bowens]], [[Malcolm Kamulete]], [[Ray BLK]], [[Nadine Marshall]], [[Ray Fearon]], [[Jo Martin]] and [[Karl Collins]]. Set in South London, it focuses on the musical rivalry between two up-and-coming musicians, siblings Bosco and Vita Champion, and the ramifications and fallout of which could drive their family apart in their quest for musical stardom. ==Synopsis== The Champion siblings of [[South London]], Bosco, and Vita, risk a musical rivalry that could drive their family apart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220725146341/bbc-champion-queenie-author-candice-carty-williams-first-look/?viewas=amp|website=Hellomagazine.com|access-date=March 8, 2023|title=BBC's new drama Champion from Queenie author Candice Carty-Williams looks seriously good|date=July 25, 2022|first=Emmy|last=Griffiths}}</ref> Bosco has the fame but relies on his sister for support. Like a modern-day Cinderella, Vita sorts out his problems with stage-fright, writes his songs, and gets him out of the police station when he is arrested on his 25th birthday, but she gets no credit for any of it. Even her mother takes her for granted and favours her son. When Vita has the opportunity to record her own work she accepts even though it will be with Bosco's main rival. ==Cast== * [[Déja J Bowens]] as Vita Champion * [[Malcolm Kamulete]] as Bosco Champion * [[Ray BLK]] as Honey * [[Nadine Marshall]] as Aria Champion * [[Ray Fearon]] as Beres Champion * [[Jo Martin]] as Dawn * Kerim Hassan as Memet * Adeyinka Akinrinade as Chantelle * Tom Forbes as Mark * [[Genesis Lynea]] as Tayo * [[Karl Collins]] as Lennox * [[Francis Lovehall]] as Laurent * Corey Weekes as Bulla * [[Rachel Adedeji]] as Yemi * Keiren Hamilton-Amos as Rusty * Olivia-Rose Colliard as Milan * Grace Farrell as Amber * Priscilla Fagbemi as Jade * Fergus Rees as Philip<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/champion-bbc-cast/|website=Radio Times|accessdate=29 June 2023|title= Meet the cast of Champion|date=28 June 2023|first=Morgan|last=Cormack}}</ref> * Saskia Holness as Young Vita Champion ==Episodes== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%;" |- style="color:white;" ! style="background: #9A0700;" |No. ! style="background: #9A0700;" |No. ! style="background: #9A0700;" |Title ! style="background: #9A0700;" |Directed by ! style="background: #9A0700;" |Written by ! style="background: #9A0700;" |Original air date ! style="background: #9A0700;" |U.K. viewers<br />(millions)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/|title=Weekly top 10 programmes &#124; BARB}}</ref> |- {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=1 |EpisodeNumber2=1 |Title= Champion versus Champion |DirectedBy= John Ogunmuyiwa |WrittenBy= [[Candice Carty-Williams]] |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2023|07|1|df=y}} |Viewers = |ShortSummary= As mentally unstable South London rapper Bosco Champion attempts a comeback upon his return from prison, his dutiful younger sister and songwriter Vita decides to pursue a solo music career, which causes friction between Bosco and her best friend Honey. |LineColor= 9A0700 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = The Clash | DirectedBy = John Ogunmuyiwa | WrittenBy = Candice Carty-Williams | Viewers = | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|7|8|df=y}} | ShortSummary = Under the management of Mark, the fiancée of Bosco's ex girlfriend and baby mother, Chantelle, Vita’s attempts to record her first single leave her at loggerheads with Bosco and a public revaltion during a freestyle battle between him and rival [[Birmingham, England|Birmingham]] rapper Bulla worsens things with the family. | LineColor = 9A0700| }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |EpisodeNumber2=3 |Title= Better Off on My Own |DirectedBy= John Ogunmuyiwa |WrittenBy= Isis Davis |Viewers = |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2023|7|15|df=y}} |ShortSummary= As Vita’s fame rises and Bosco’s appears to fall, the siblings must decide what kind of people and artists they want to be – with potentially devastating consequences. |LineColor= 9A0700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=4 |EpisodeNumber2=4 |Title= It's Big Rusty |DirectedBy= Adeyemi Michael |WrittenBy= Edem Wornoo |Viewers = |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2023|07|22|df=y}} |ShortSummary= During touring, Bosco’s mental health strains and breaks as he is reunited with an old friend. Meanwhile, Vita makes a decision she may later come to regret. |LineColor= 9A0700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=5 |EpisodeNumber2=5 |Title= I Love Her Man |DirectedBy= Adeyemi Michael |WrittenBy= Emma Dennis-Edwards and Candice Carty-Williams |Viewers = |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2023|07|29|df=y}} |ShortSummary= Following the cancellation of his tour, Bosco's friendship with Memet strains after several incidents. Vita's plans to make amends with her mother don't go to plan. Beres receives devastating news from [[Jamaica]]. |LineColor= 9A0700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=6 |EpisodeNumber2=6 |Title= Dat Is It |DirectedBy= Caleb Femi |WrittenBy= Ameir Brown |Viewers = |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2023|08|05|df=y}} |ShortSummary= Aria and Vita are forced together for the funeral of Beres' father in [[Jamaica]]. However, a family rapprochement is ruined when long-buried secrets come to the surface. |LineColor= 9A0700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=7 |EpisodeNumber2=7 |Title= Moist Yute |DirectedBy= Christiana Ebohon-Green |WrittenBy= Ameir Brown and Candice Carty-Williams |Viewers = |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2023|08|12|df=y}} |ShortSummary= Upon returning to London, Vita’s career goes from strength to strength but is faced with the decision to move away from her dysfuntional family. Meanwhile, Bosco’s life seems to fall apart upon learning that Beres is now controlling his career and Chantelle and Mark are taking his daughter Milan to [[New York City]]. |LineColor= 9A0700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=8 |EpisodeNumber2=8 |Title= Rise of the Phoenix |DirectedBy= Christiana Ebohon-Green |WrittenBy= Candice Carty-Williams |Viewers = |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2023|08|19|df=y}} |ShortSummary= Six months on, Vita realises she can't leave her brother behind. Meanwhile, Bosco’s healing journey changes everything. |LineColor= 9A0700 }} |} ==Production== [[Candice Carty-Williams]] was revealed to be writing a London-based music drama for the BBC in May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/news/queenie-author-candice-carty-williams-is-writing-a-bbc-drama-about-black-music-in-london-052021|website=Time Out|title='Queenie' author Candice Carty-Williams is writing a BBC drama about Black music in London|first=Kate|last=Lloyd|date=May 20, 2021|access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref> Carty-Williams is also executive producer on the project which is coming from the production companies New Pictures and Balloon Entertainment, and produced by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. Executive producers also include Bryan Elsley, Dave Evans and Danielle Scott-Haughton for Balloon Entertainment, Charlie Pattinson, Willow Grylls and Imogen O’Sullivan for New Pictures, and Jo McClellan for the BBC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/netflix-bbc-champion-candice-carty-williams-queenie-1235076556|website=Deadline|title=Netflix Boards BBC Drama 'Champion' From 'Queenie' Writer Candice Carty-Williams|first=Max|last=Goldbart|date=July 25, 2022|access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref> Writing credits on the series, with Carty-Williams, go to Ameir Brown, Isis Davis, Emma Dennis-Edwards and Edem Wornoo. Directing episodes are John Ogunmuyiwa, Adeyemi Michael, Christiana Ebohon-Green and Caleb Femi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a43879993/bbc-drama-champion-trailer/|date=May 12, 2023|accessdate=May 13, 2023|website=Digital Spy|first=George|last=Lucas|title=BBC drama Champion unveils first trailer for new series}}</ref> ===Music=== [[Ray BLK]] is making her acting debut on the series and is music executive on the project, along with [[Ghetts]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/tv/news/bbc-netflix-tv-show-champion-casts-ray-blk-20710|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 26, 2022|title=Ray BLK to make acting debut in BBC and Netflix show 'Champion'.The rapper will also serve as the music executive for the series alongside Ghetts|first=Will|last=Richards|access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref> Candice-Williams wrote music for the series and had the music before the story and used it to help form the characters with their personalities matching their musical styles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/article/candice-carty-williams-talks-queenie-making-history-and-believing-your-unique-voice|website=rts.org|title= Candice Carty-Williams talks Queenie, making history and believing in your unique voice|first=Imani|last=Cottrell|date=November 9, 2022|access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref> A song from the series written by Ray BLK, ''My Girl'', was released as a single on 30 June 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title= Why BBC One's Champion will be ‘a huge cultural moment’|first=Harvey|last=Day|first2= Megan|last2=Lawton|website=BBC News|date=1 July 2023|accessdate=2 July 2023|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66060101.amp}}</ref> ===Casting=== In July 2022 the cast was announced to include Déja J Bowens, Malcolm Kamulete, [[Nadine Marshall]], [[Ray Fearon]], [[Jo Martin]], Kerim Hassan, Adeyinka Akinrinade, Tom Forbes, [[Genesis Lynea]], [[Karl Collins]], Francis Lovehall, Corey Weekes, [[Rachel Adedeji]] and Ray BLK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/champion-cast-announcement|website=bbc.com|date=July 25, 2022|access-date=March 8, 2023|title=Cast announced for original new drama Champion from Candice Carty-Williams for the BBC and Netflix}}</ref> ===Filming=== Filming took place in [[Birmingham]] in July, through to September 2022. Filming locations included [[Selly Oak]] Corker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmbirmingham.co.uk/2022/08/champion-shoots-in-birmingham-for-bbc-one|website=filmbirmingham.co.uk|title=Champion shoots in Birmingham for BBC One|date=August 8, 2022|access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theknowledgeonline.com/the-knowledge-bulletin/post/2022/07/01/champion-begins-filming-in-birmingham-for-bbc-one|website=theknowledgeonline.com|title=Champion shoots in Birmingham for BBC One|date=July 1, 2022|access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/champion-bbc-one-series-turns-24955034|title=Champion BBC One series turns Selly Oak pantry into London cafe|date=September 9, 2022|access-date=March 8, 2023|first=Graham|last=Young|website=birminghammail.co.uk}}</ref> ==Broadcast== The series premiered on [[BBC One]] in the UK and Ireland from 1 July 2023, and repeated the following Tuesday on [[BBC Three]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-shows-written-by-women-2023|website=Radio Times|access-date=March 8, 2023|title= 21 TV shows written by women to look forward to in 2023|date=March 8, 2023|first=Morgan|last=Cormack}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/dec/28/the-35-must-see-tv-shows-to-look-forward-to-in-2023|website=The Guardian|access-date=March 8, 2023|title= The 35 must-see TV shows to look forward to in 2023|date=December 28, 2022|first1=Stuart|last1=Heritage|first2=Kate|last2=Abbott}}</ref> In July 2022, [[Netflix]] bought the rights to the series outside the UK and Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/champion-candice-carty-williams-netflix-1235324454|website=Variety|date=July 25, 2022|title=Netflix Buys 'Queenie' Author Candice Carty-Williams' BBC Drama 'Champion' for Global|first=Manori|last=Ravindran}}</ref> ==Reception== Hollie Richardson in ''[[The Guardian]]'' described it as having “sharp social observations” with “an impressive soundtrack”.<ref>{{cite web|date=1 July 2023|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/01/tv-tonight-champion-is-a-juicy-south-london-drama-about-sibling-rivalry|accessdate=1 July 2023|title= TV tonight: Champion is a juicy south London drama about sibling rivalry|website=The Guardian}}</ref> Dan Einav in ''[[The Financial Times]]'' criticised the “verbose” script but said that a “scene in which Bosco trades rapid-fire bars of improvised insults with his arch-nemesis Bulla is as exhilarating as any action-movie fight sequence.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0bf8e52d-1a50-480c-919a-0be95b18f594|title= Champion, BBC1 review — rap battles at gigs, family battles at home|first=Dan|last=Einav|date=30 June 2023|accessdate=2 July 2023|website=The Financial Times}}</ref> Anita Singh in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' said “you’ll be rooting for Vita from the start, and Bowens is one to watch.” However, argued that the show would be better placed on the youth orientated [[BBC Three]] (which airs repeats the series) rather than BBC One.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/07/01/champion-bbc-one-review-candice-carty-williams/|website=The Daily Telegraph|title= Champion, review: for all its talents, this slick rap drama is too low-key for BBC primetime|first=Anita|last=Singh|date=1 July 2023|accessdate=2 July 2023}}</ref> Emily Baker for ''[[iNews]]'' compares “Vita’s radio-friendly melodies to Bosco’s grime performances and clashes against other MCs” saying that the result is “authentic, varied and – crucially – a really good soundtrack.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/champion-daisy-jones-six-mood-tv-soundtrack-seriously-2442754|first=Emily|last=Baker|website=iNews|accessdate=2 July 2023|title= Champion, Daisy Jones and the Six, Mood: How TV is finally taking the soundtrack seriously|date=30 June 2023}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{IMDb title|21364468}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Champion}} [[Category:2023 British television series debuts]] [[Category:2020s British drama television series]] [[Category:2020s British television miniseries]] [[Category:Black British television shows]] [[Category:Television shows filmed in England]] [[Category:BBC television dramas]] [[Category:Television shows set in London]] [[Category:Television series about families]]'