Wunmi Mosaku, Cara Theobol, Michael Salami, Kenda Brown join Season 2 of Tubi’s Boarders & First Look Images
Tubi (www.tubi.tv), Fox Corporation’s ad-supported streaming service, today announced additional casting and first-look photography for the return of the BBC’s critically acclaimed coming-of-age series BOARDERS, which comes back for a second season next year. The six-episode second season of the comedy-drama is a co-production between Tubi and the BBC. Created and written by the BAFTA-nominated Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who co-stars in the series as “Gus,” BOARDERS is produced by Studio Lambert, part of All3Media, in association with All3Media International for the BBC.
The new pictures show Josh Tedeku (Jaheim), Jodie Campbell (Leah), Sekou Diaby (Toby), Myles Kamwendo (Omar) and Aruna Jalloh (Femi) back at St Gilbert’s for series two. They are seen alongside returning characters Harry Gilby (Rupert), Tallulah Greive (Beatrix), Rosie Graham (Florence), Assa Kanouté (Abby), Georgia Sadler (Mabel) and Niky Wardley (Carol Watlington-Geese).
Announced today, new cast members for series two include BAFTA-winner Wunmi Mosaku (Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine, Black Mirror) as Jaheim’s mum, Grace. Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey) joins the cast as St Gilbert’s new writer in residence Jude, with Michael Salami (Supacell) as Femi’s Uncle Teju. Kenda Brown stars in her debut on-screen role as the new American exchange student, Devon’ye.
BOARDERS follows five talented black inner-city teens transported to an alien world – a British boarding school – after gaining scholarships to the prestigious St. Gilbert’s. They set out to make the most out of the opportunity, despite their places only being offered as a poorly-disguised PR exercise to improve the reputation of the school.
Series two sees a new era for St Gilbert’s, with headmaster Bernard - who had brought the scholarship students into the school - suspended following a school rebellion. Now acting headmistress Carol Watlington-Geese (who also happens to be the mother of Jaheim’s nemesis, Rupert) is at the helm - and she wants them gone.
Series one saw these five outsiders begin to thrive. Series two asks how much they’re willing to sacrifice just to survive.
Returning cast from series one also include Zheng Xi Yong (Xiang), Dillon Mitra (Dilton), Archie Fisher (Cheddar), Andrew Harmon-Gray (Graham), Ruxandra Porojnicu (Yelena), Kye Malcolm (Caleb), Llewella Gideon (Sylvie), Mohammed Mansaray (Malachi), Niyi Akin (Koku), Maxim Ays (Felix), Al Foran (Stanley), William Andrews(Mackers) and Yuriri Naka (Ms Kaneko).
Daniel Lawrence Taylor, creator, writer and executive producer, says: “Bringing the new season of BOARDERS to life has been an incredible experience, especially with the exciting addition of new faces to the cast. Watching the actors effortlessly return to their roles, as if they had never left, has been an absolute joy. We hope you enjoy this second helping of the series as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it!”
Madeleine Sinclair, executive producer for Studio Lambert, says: “We’re so thrilled with our cast for series two of BOARDERS, both the wonderful returning characters and the exciting new faces – viewers are in for a real treat. Daniel’s scripts are once again as funny as they are thought-provoking and our talented cast come together to bring them to life perfectly.”
BOARDERS series two (6x45)’ is created by Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who serves as lead writer with Yemi Oyefuwa, Jeffrey Aidoo and Racheal Ofori writing additional episodes. It is directed by Joelle Mae David and Sarmad Masud,with Ali MacPhail returning as the producer and Carleen Beadle-Larcombe as line producer. Mykaell Riley will also return as Musical Director. Executive producers are Daniel Lawrence Taylor, Madeleine Sinclair and Susan Hogg for Studio Lambert, and Nawfal Faizullah and Katherine Bond for the BBC.
The first series of BOARDERS is currently available to stream on Tubi and on BBC iPlayer now in the UK. Series two will arrive on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three next year.
