Fighting CHANCE
IDRIS ELBA helps youngsters transform their lives through boxing
Idris Elba’s Fight School
Easter Sunday, 9pm, BBC2 (box set, BBC iplayer)
When Idris Elba was growing up in London, he could have fallen into a life of crime – but the Luther star credits boxing with keeping him on the straight and narrow.
‘As a young black man growing up in the inner city, life wasn’t always easy,’ says Elba. ‘I was at a crossroads. My local community centre helped me find my way and become the man I am by teaching me to box. What I gained there has stuck with me and I still use the life skills that boxing taught me.’
Now, the actor, 49, is drawing on that experience to give eight youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to transform their lives.
In the series, young men and women from around the UK spend five months training with
former champion
Rachel Bower and coach Greg White – before taking on top amateurs from the British Army at a London boxing venue.
‘I got the idea for the series when I was filming a movie in South Africa,’ explains Elba.
‘We went to the townships and there was a boxing gym. These guys who set up the fight school lowered the crime rate and got kids out of trouble. That really stuck with me.’
NEW BEGINNINGS
One of the youngsters desperate to grab his chance with both hands is 26-year-old Zeb, who’s faced many difficulties growing up in London.
‘My dad died when I was nine years old and I still miss him a lot,’ he explains. ‘After that, my mum didn’t always have enough money for food and rent.’
Another budding boxer hoping to make a new start is 30-year-old Chanika, who fell seriously ill with COVID-19 just before filming was supposed to begin.
‘I was in intensive care for a while,’ she reveals. ‘At one point the doctors had a serious conversation with my mum, which was very scary.
‘However, I was determined not to go down without a fight and ever since, I have been pushing myself to recover, because I know this is a once
in-a-lifetime opportunity.’