Damilola, Our Loved Boy

Damilola, Our Loved Boy
Genre	Drama True crime
Written by	Levi David Addai
Directed by	Euros Lyn
Starring	Babou Ceesay Wunmi Mosaku
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer	Colin Barr [1]
Producer	Susan Horth [1]
Running time	87 minutes [1]
Production company	Minnow Films [1]
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	7 November 2016 (2016-11-07)

Damilola, Our Loved Boy is a British television film about the events surrounding the 27 November 2000 death of Damilola Taylor. ^[2] The film aired on BBC One on 7 November 2016, and was written by Levi David Addai, directed by Euros Lyn, and starred Babou Ceesay and Wunmi Mosaku. ^[1] The film received three nominations at the 2017 British Academy Television Awards, winning Best Single Drama and Best Supporting Actress for Mosaku. ^[3]

Cast

• Babou Ceesay as Richard Taylor ^[1]
• Wunmi Mosaku as Gloria Taylor
• Juwon Adedokun as Tunde Taylor
• Sammy Kamara as Damilola Taylor
• Juma Sharkah as Gbemi Taylor
• Robert Pugh as DCI Nick Ephgrave
• Raphel Famotibe as Dapo
• McKell David as Nathan
• Shola Adewusi as Auntie Dorcas
• Megan Parkinson as Leanne
• John Hollingworth as Detective Wallace
• Gamba Cole as Junior
• Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa as Pastor Peter
• Alfie Browne-Sykes 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 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 '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 Wunmi Mosaku, and noted that Sammy Kamara as Damilola was "luminous and full of life". ^[4]

The Guardian 's Sam Wollaston called the film a "quietly powerful, affecting drama" and praised the performances from Mosaku, Juwon Adedokun, and in particular, Ceesay. ^[5]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref(s)
2017	British Academy Television Awards	Best Single Drama	Damilola, Our Loved Boy	Won	[3]
		Best Actor	Babou Ceesay	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Wunmi Mosaku	Won
	Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards	Director - Drama	Euros Lyn	Nominated	[6]
		Music - Original Score	Dru Masters	Won
2018	Royal Television Society Programme Awards	Single Drama	Damilola, Our Loved Boy	Nominated	[7]
		Actor: Female	Wunmi Mosaku	Nominated

References

1. "Damilola, Our Loved Boy". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
2. Khaleeli, Homa (7 November 2016). "Damilola, Our Loved Boy – the 16 years of agony behind one boy's shocking death". The Guardian.
3. "Bafta TV awards 2017: full list of winners". The Guardian. 14 May 2017.
4. Hogan, Michael (7 November 2016). "Damilola, Our Loved Boy turned a tragic tale for our times into a powerful drama – review". The Telegraph.
5. Wollaston, Sam (8 November 2016). "Damilola, Our Loved Boy review – it's unbearable, knowing where this is going". The Guardian.
6. "CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2017". Royal Television Society . 5 June 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
7. "RTS Programme Awards 2018 in partnership with Audio Network". Royal Television Society. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.

External links

• Damilola, Our Loved Boy at BBC Online
• Damilola, Our Loved Boy at IMDb