Grime Kids: The Inside Story of the Global Grime Takeover

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Fiona Campbell, Controller, BBC Three says: “It’s a great pleasure to announce the incredibly talented cast of Grime Kids - a fantastic new story rich with life, told through the eyes of teens in the best summer of their lives. I can’t wait for BBC Three viewers to get to know them.” Target makes a point of saying he does not use a ghostwriter, and it’s a good call. His prose captures the excitement, joy, and buzz of his experiences in a pure and authentic way. In many respects, the book follows the same beats as the genre it documents. It muddles around in East London, is seduced by garage and jungle music, and then finds its feet exploring the mysteries of a new genre. Inspired by DJ Target’s book of the same name, Grime Kids is an original drama written by Bafta-nominated and BIFA-winning writer Theresa Ikoko. Series creator Theresa Ikoko says: “The casting process was one of my favourite parts of making this show. The first time seeing all five leads together was such a magical moment; we knew instantly that we had something special with them.” The rise of grime music is a story best told from the inside. That’s the ethos that underpins Grime Kids, a retelling of the genre’s early days by someone who was there from the very beginning – DJ Target.

Grime Kids cast reveal: Who stars in the coming-of-age drama?

This year’s Opening Film will be the International Premiere of Saltburn, directed by Emerald Fennell, which will screen simultaneously at selected cinemas across UK. The festival will close with the World Premiere of Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya’s dystopian drama, The Kitchen. All the biggest names in grime feature in the book, Wiley, Tinchy Stryder, Skepta, and Risky Roadz among them, and plenty more besides. All were there and all mattered. There’s very little ego in Grime Kids. It delights in sharing a life-changing time and is grateful for the opportunity to do so. The 67th BFI London Film Festival, which is scheduled to be presented over twelve days from 4 to 15 October 2023, has announced the full programme line-up. Junior, Dane’s best friend, is the ‘dad’ of the group. During the series, he learns to confront his grief over the death of his mum head on and put aside old resentments and see the best in people.Meet the stars of Grime Kids (please note this video has no commentary) The casting process was one of my favourite parts of making this show. The first time seeing all five leads together was such a magical moment; we knew instantly that we had something special with them. Grime Kids is directed by Abdou Cisse and Ian Aryeh, and produced by Irma Inniss. Executive producers are Theresa Ikoko, DJ Target, Tom Leggett and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, and Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC. The series is distributed internationally by Fifth Season. Although fictional, it is inspired by DJ Target’s 2019 non-fiction book of the same name. Grime Kids follows a group of teenagers using music to share their voices, whilst navigating growing up in the 90s. It is a celebration of culture and community, and the ever-growing genre of grime. Technology has moved on since then, in many ways to artists’ benefit, but the creative community that underpins Grime Kids really does feel like a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Seeing it from Target’s perspective is a real privilege. Each individual has his own defining characteristic, a story to tell and a reason to look for something more than what life can provide. Set in the early 2000s, Grime Kids explores how the environment in which a person grows up affects their choices, actions and the kind of people they surround themselves with. It touches on the different approaches to parenting – from the overly strict to the neglectful to the ones incredibly dependent on their children – and how the absence of parental authority can urge young individuals to look for family elsewhere, whether it be through their friends or the idols they look up to. The writing highlights these different dynamics through toxic friendships, jealousy and familial rifts.

Grime Kids: Theresa Ikoko has cooked up a slice of teenage joy

BFI Flare Special Presentation: HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS (North Macedonia-Poland-Croatia-Serbia-Kosovo, dir.-scr. Goran Stolevski)TIGER STRIPES (Malaysia-Taiwan-Singapore-France-Germany-Netherlands-Indonesia-Qatar, dir.-scr. Amanda Nell Eu) Tom Leggett, Executive Producer, Mammoth Screen says: “We are thrilled to be announcing to the world the amazing cast of Grime Kids, who have brought Theresa’s beautiful scripts to life”. Bishop, the quiet thinker, learns an important lesson in appreciating the relationships in his life over flashy things. Filming took place in East London and the series is due to air on BBC Three and iPlayer later this year. Set in 2001 at the start of summer, Grime Kids follows the five friends Dane, Junior, Kai, Bishop and Bayo, known as the “Gladiator Crew”. The lads navigate first loves, disapproving parents and brushes with danger - each coming of age in their own way, while setting out to have their music played on the airways. Meet the cast of Grime Kids

Grime Kids Cast Reveal: Who Stars in the Coming-of-Age Drama? Grime Kids Cast Reveal: Who Stars in the Coming-of-Age Drama?

Every feature and series will screen to audiences in the UK for the very first time, with many shown publicly for the first time ever anywhere in the world. Premieres include 29 World Premieres (14 features, 2 series and 13 shorts), 7 International Premieres (6 features and 1 short) and 30 European Premieres (22 features, 1 series and 7 shorts). Finally, Kai, the wildcard, learns how to break through his bravado, embracing the honesty and vulnerability needed to form meaningful relationships.The Rap Game UK mentor DJ Target is one of the show’s executive producers and says the series will allow viewers a glimpse into “how a young person at that time lived, got about and navigated to get to their dream”. Finding the perfect people to portray that world was an incredible part of the process, says series writer and executive producer Theresa Ikoko: “The casting process was one of my favourite parts of making this show. The first time seeing all five leads together was such a magical moment; we knew instantly that we had something special with them.” A new BBC Three drama will explore the emergence of grime music from subculture to international phenomenon. Grime Kids is a brand new, fictional story created by Ikoko, inspired by DJ Target’s non-fiction book of the same name. Grime Kids has finished filming and will be available on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer later this year.

Grime Kids OUT NOW on Twitter Grime Kids OUT NOW on Twitter

Dane is the ambitious dreamer and leader of the crew. He’s determined to turn his dreams into a reality and finds his first love Genevieve along the way.Yus Jamal Crooks will be making his TV debut, alongside Shanu Hazzan (EastEnders), Juwon Adedokun (We Love Moses), Gabriel Robinson (Silent Witness), and Tienne Simon ( Silent Witness).