''Damilola, Our Loved Boy'' is a British

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

about the events surrounding the 27 November 2000 death of Damilola Taylor. The film aired on

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...

on 7 November 2016, and was written by

Levi David Addai Levi David Addai is a British playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for the award-winning '' Damilola, Our Loved Boy'', the critically acclaimed ''Youngers'' and his stage plays ''93.2FM'' and ''Oxford Street''. Personal Addai was born i ...

, directed by

Euros Lyn Euros Lyn (; born 1971) is a Welsh Film director, film and television director, best known for his work in ''Doctor Who'', ''Sherlock (TV series), Sherlock'', ''Black Mirror'', ''Daredevil (TV series), Daredevil'', ''His Dark Materials (TV seri ...

, and starred Babou Ceesay and

Wunmi Mosaku Oluwunmi Mosaku (; born July 31, 1986) is a Nigerian-born British actress. She is known for her roles as Joy in the BBC Two miniseries '' Moses Jones'' (2009) and Holly Lawson in the ITV series ''Vera'' (2011–2012). She won the BAFTA TV Award ...

. The film received three nominations at the

2017 British Academy Television Awards The 2017 British Academy Television Awards were held on 14 May 2017 at the Royal Festival Hall in London. They were hosted by Sue Perkins. The nominations were announced on 11 April, with ''The Crown (TV series), The Crown'' nominated for five aw ...

, winning Best Single Drama and Best Supporting Actress for Mosaku.

Cast

* Babou Ceesay as Richard Taylor *

as Gloria Taylor *Juwon Adedokun as Tunde Taylor *Sammy Kamara as

Damilola Taylor Damilola Adegbite (born Oluwadamilola Adegbite; 18 May 1985) is a Nigerian actress, model, and television personality. She played Telema Duke in the soap opera ''Tinsel'', and Kemi Williams in the movie '' Flower Girl''. She won Best Actress in a ...

*Juma Sharkah as Gbemi Taylor *

Robert Pugh Robert Pugh (born 3 November 1948) is a Welsh actor, known for his many television appearances, including the role of Craster in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones''. Life and career Pugh was born in Tyntetown, Mountain Ash and attended Ynysbo ...

as DCI Nick Ephgrave *Raphel Famotibe as Dapo *McKell David as Nathan *

Shola Adewusi Shola Adewusi (born 1963) is a British actress of Nigerian descent, of stage screen and radio. Her television work includes '' Little Miss Jocelyn'', the BBC comedy sketch show series written by and starring Jocelyn Jee Esien. In addition, A ...

as Auntie Dorcas * Megan Parkinson as Leanne * John Hollingworth as Detective Wallace *

Gamba Cole Gamba Cole is a British actor. He is known for his appearance in the British television series '' The Outlaws''. Early life Born in Bristol, he lived in the St Paul’s area of Bristol before moving to London. Cole studied a BTEC in performing ...

as Junior * Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa as Pastor Peter *

Alfie Browne-Sykes Alfie Browne-Sykes (born 8 November 1994) is a British actor from Dagenham, England. He is best known for playing Jason Roscoe in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' from 2013 to 2016. Acting career Sykes played guest roles in ''Doctors' ...

as Will * Muna Otaru as Tayo *Naomi Ackie as Council Worker * Doc Brown as Cab Driver *Jud Charlton as Prosecution Barrister *Richard Pepple as Defence Barrister *Mario Demetriou as Male Witness *

Wanda Opalinska Wanda Opalinska is an English-Polish actress, known for playing the part of Polish immigrant and Underworld factory worker Wiki Dankowska in the ITV (TV channel), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Early life Opalinska went to drama school befo ...

as Pathologist * Imogen Byron as Witness Bromley *Anthony Adjekum as Chris *Ian Bonar as Damilola's Teacher *Shanice Sewell as Passionate Youth

Reception

Critical reception

The Telegraph ''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are often names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include: Australia * The Telegraph (Adelaide), ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaid ...

''s Michael Hogan gave the film four stars out of five, calling it a "terrific piece of TV" and a "fitting tribute". Hogan also praised the "superb" performances from Babou Ceesay and

, and noted that Sammy Kamara as Damilola was "luminous and full of life". ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

''s Sam Wollaston called the film a "quietly powerful, affecting drama" and praised the performances from Mosaku, Juwon Adedokun, and in particular, Ceesay.

Accolades

References

External links

* *{{IMDb title, 5639464 2016 films BBC crime drama television shows British drama television films British English-language television shows BAFTA winners (television series) British films based on actual events Television shows set in London 2016 television films Films directed by Euros Lyn