Idris Elba to investigate knife crime in BBC doc from his prodco 22Summers
Idris Elba: A Year of Knife Crime looks for potential solutions to the crisis
UK pubcaster the BBC has commissioned a documentary about knife crime, fronted by Idris Elba and produced by his recently launched prodco 22Summers.
In Idris Elba: A Year of Knife Crime (working title), the actor will explore the reality of knife crime and examine potential solutions to solve the crisis. He will meet young offenders, bereaved families, youth workers and the police to understand why there has been an upward trend in such offences.
The 1×60’ doc for BBC One and iPlayer will also feature meetings with UK prime minister Keir Starmer and King Charles.
Elba said: “So many people dismiss knife crime as something that doesn’t affect them, assuming it’s a black and brown, urban and gang-related problem – but this couldn’t be further from the truth. White, middle-class and rural areas are also affected, perpetrators are getting younger and fear is spreading.
“I hope our film goes some way towards changing these stereotypes and getting everyone to engage with one of the biggest challenges of our time. For me, it’s been a tough year – but I’m hopeful.”
Hairy Bikers the late Dave Myers (left) and Si King
Separately, the BBC has commissioned a 1×60’ doc to celebrate the life of the late TV chef Dave Myers, who died of cancer earlier this year. Myers and his friend Si King formed the Hairy Bikers, a duo whose TV programmes combined cooking with motorcycling travelogues.
In The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone, King will pick out the key moments of his and Myers’ 25-year TV career. The doc also follows the thousands of bikers that joined King on a memorial journey from London to Myers’ hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. South Shore is producing the special, which will air on BBC Two just before Christmas.