New BBC music drama, Champion, is the first TV project for Candice Carty-Williams, bestselling author of novels Queenie and People Person…
Champion – the exciting new eight-part music drama coming soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer – is the brainchild of author Candice Carty-Williams, and tells the story of rap sensation Bosco Champion, who 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, 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 including Ray BLK, Ghetts and more.
Writer and creator Candice Carty-Williams tells us more…
What’s Champion about, in a nutshell?
A brother and a sister. Bosco Champion – a rapper who’s been in prison for the last two years – and Vita, his sister. Vita is his long-suffering PA and has been doing everything for Bosco; running around after him, lying for him.. Then you have their parents Aria and Beres Champion, who have their own history in the music industry from ‘back in the day’. Everyone in this family is invested in music.
When Bosco comes back from prison the world has changed, and music has changed, so what should he do? Vita has been behind the scenes keeping everything going. She wants to step up to be his manager now, but Bosco wants her to just keep doing what she’s been doing. Bosco also has a rival, a drill rapper called Bulla. Vita and her friend Honey sing with Bulla and he recognises Vita’s talent… the show unravels from there.
Déja J Bowens as Vita (Image: BBC/New Pictures Ltd/Ben Gregory-Rin)
What are the main conflicts in the series?
Bosco and Vita, but also their parents, Aria and Beres Champion. They’re divorced but Beres is still inserting himself into the lives of these people. There is Beres and Lennox, Aria’s new partner, Bosco and Bulla – a musical rivalry. Honey and Vita are best friends, singing together since they were kids. But Vita makes some choices with their music that Honey isn’t very happy about. We have so much conflict in every episode. Every character has their fights – their wins, and losses.
What makes this show and the music so special?
I think this show is special in its own right but the music is very close to me. I’m obsessed with music. I always have to listen to something. Drill, rap, R&B, soul, neo-soul, reggae – we have so many things covered. The music team is quite small; me, a music supervisor called Cat Grieves, music consultant Hattie Collins, and Ghetts. He writes all of Bosco’s raps with his own producers. We have Ray BLK, in the show as Honey but also a songwriter and music exec, and amazing music written by Debbie, plus Shola Ama. All of my musical dreams.
What are the themes of the show?
When I watch most TV shows, especially concerning young people, I’m always thinking where’s the family, where did they come from? Even if your parents aren’t necessarily around, they still make you – what does that absence do to you? When we were making the show, I immediately understood that it’d be a family drama. Everyone in that family – Beres, Aria, Bosco and Vita – all have a place, a function and a role – even though the family is fragmented and fragments further throughout the show. Everyone has to come from somewhere. I love family drama, writing about and observing families. My family in itself is very fractured, but I’m always interested in that rather than being sad about it because I can see why it can happen. I can see why when people don’t talk to each other -you can have massive rifts that last lifetimes sometimes. Putting that into my work is important because family is so foundational.
Malcolm Kamulete as Bosco (Image: BBC/New Pictures Ltd/Ben Gregory-Ring)
What’s the link between the music and the drama?
I didn’t want it to be a musical in that someone breaks into song. I wanted you to see people making songs in their own right. Debbie wrote a song for Vita called My Ones, it’s about hating everyone because they’re taking advantage of you. My job was to create a sonic world and decide if everything fits.
Why should people watch Champion?
think we’re doing something people haven’t seen before. There is something about family and music, the heart and pain that comes together really beautifully in this show. We’ve packed so much good stuff into each 45 minutes. It looks really beautiful.
What is the show about for you at its core?
For me, it’s called Champion and it is about fighting because Vita is the person constantly fighting to be seen and to be heard – not just in family but in music, life and as a black woman. Champion is about fighting just to exist and exist comfortably and happily.
Jo Martin as Dawn (Image: BBC)
What is unique about the music in Champion?
In most musicals someone is talking and you feel a song coming up – but in Champion all the music has a point and a place. The music in the show is written by Ghetts, Ray BLK, Debbie, Shola Ama and more. In terms of producers we have Nana Rogues, KZ, Ten Billions Dreams, Toddla T, so many incredible names. And we have a score produced by Swindle who is an amazing producer.
Who are your five musical GOATs? (Greatest of all time)
That’s really hard! Chakka Khan, because there is so much emotion there. Ghetts, obviously, it’s been a dream working with him. Vybz Kartel, shady past but great lyricist. Little Sims, I think lyrically she’s absolutely incredible – one of my favourite rappers. The final one is Freddie Mercury who I think is the greatest performer ever to have lived.
Champion launches at 9:15pm, Saturday 1 July on BBC One, with all episodes available on BBC iPlayer.
