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BBC Orders Damilola Taylor Documentary Featuring John Boyega’s Unheard Testimony

The film centers first-hand accounts to revisit a case that shaped the UK’s debate on youth violence.

Overview

  • The BBC confirmed Wednesday it has commissioned Damilola Taylor: The Last 24 Hours for BBC One and iPlayer, with the air date still to be announced.
  • John Boyega, a childhood friend from Peckham, will share previously unheard testimony as one of the last people to see the 10-year-old alive.
  • Directed by Alex Thomas, the documentary retraces Damilola’s final day and examines the fear, bullying, and survival pressures facing young people at the time.
  • Produced by Optomen, the project credits include executive producer Becky Cadman, creative directors Nick Hornby and Tina Flintoff, developer Ruby Rookes, and All3Media International for global distribution.
  • Framed around the 25th anniversary of the 2000 killing, the film connects his story to rising knife-related crime in the UK and to the lasting impact on friends and family.