Broadcast Date: November 2020
Broadcaster: BBC/Amazon
Production: Turbine Studios/ Lamas Park

Small Axe: Red, White and Blue

Star Wars actor John Boyega plays Leroy in Red, White and Blue, an episode of 12 Years A Slave Director Sir Steve McQueen’s iconic anthology, Small Axe.

‘I was amazed and intrigued by the way Leroy had stood his ground and progressed within the Metropolitan Police against so many obstacles: hostility, outright racism and being repeatedly overlooked for promotion.’
Steve McQueen, Oscar Award-winning Director

McQueen’s anthology drama, which was developed over ten years,, tells five stories from within London’s West Indian community between the 1960s and 1980s.

Boyega stars alongside Steve Toussaint, who plays Leroy’s father, Kenneth Logan. The cast also includes newcomers Tyrone Huntley (Leee John), Nathan Vidal (Young Leroy) and Jaden Oshenye (Young Leee).

The episode was co-written by Courttia Newland and McQueen.

Leroy was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 2001 for his role in developing anti-racist policies for the police. He retired as a superintendent in 2013 after 30 years of service.

A multi-award-winning project

John Boyega was ultimately nominated for Best Leading Actor at BAFTA and won The Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actor in a limited series made for television and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Small Axe: Red, White and Blue is available on BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime.