Alex Wheatle, Acclaimed 'Brixton Bard,' Dies at 62

The celebrated novelist and advocate for prostate cancer awareness leaves behind a legacy of nearly 20 books and cultural contributions, including the upcoming BBC adaptation of his 'Crongton Knights' series.

• Alex Wheatle passed away on March 16, 2025, at the age of 62 after battling prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2023.
• Known as the 'Brixton Bard,' Wheatle's novels often explored the post-Windrush black British experience and urban life in Brixton.
• His 2016 Young Adult novel 'Crongton Knights,' which won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, has been adapted into a BBC series set to premiere on Monday.
• Wheatle used his platform to advocate for prostate cancer awareness, particularly highlighting its disproportionate impact on black men and calling for changes to NHS screening guidelines.
• His life story, marked by childhood abuse, imprisonment after the Brixton riots, and eventual literary success, was chronicled in his 2023 memoir 'Sufferah' and featured in Steve McQueen's 'Small Axe' series.

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