Idris Elba returns for the third season of In The Long Run
SKY ONE/NOW TV, THURSDAY 23 JULY, 10PM
Idris Elba’s extraordinary career has taken him from playing drug kingpin Stringer Bell in The Wire – one of the finest TV dramas of all time – through his iconic character detective John Luther in Luther, not forgetting his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the film Long Walk To Freedom, and dozens of other, highly acclaimed TV and film roles. But his most personal project is his Sky One comedy series In The Long Run, now heading into its third season, based on his own experiences of growing up on a London estate.
THE IDRIS STORY
Set in the mid 1980s, the show is loosely based on Elba’s own upbringing in an east London tower block as the son of immigrants from Sierra Leone. He plays Walter Easmon, the character based on his own father, while Walter’s young son Kobna is based on Idris himself. The overall tone of the show is loose, breezy and life-affirming, but it doesn’t shy away from the racism that this black British family faces. When Walter’s younger brother Valentine (Jimmy Akingbola) suddenly arrived from Africa in the very first episode, he was soon told to “f**k off” by one of the locals.
THE MAMA ARRIVES
As season three begins, Walter and Valentine’s mother, known as Mama (Ellen Thomas), comes to London to stay with the family, instantly setting off new levels of competitiveness and anxiety from her offspring. Walter worries whether his life on the estate will make his mother proud, while Valentine frets about young Kobna (Sammy Kamara) taking his place as her favourite. With good reason, as it soon becomes clear. As for their neighbour, Bagpipes (Bill Bailey), he has a panic attack while fishing, which scares him into making big changes in his and his family’s lifestyle. It’s a suitably charming return for a show that somehow feels both fun and celebratory – with its wonderful soundtrack of ’80s bangers – yet never bland or sentimental. And maybe that’s because it’s authentically Idris’ story. HHHH