Sky One Set to Premiere Idris Elba-Created Comedy In the Long Run in March

Sky One has announced a Mar. 29 premiere date for their British sitcom based on the childhood of renaissance man Idris Elba.

The sitcom heads back to mid-1980s East London, where Sierra Leone natives Walter and Agnes Easmon are living a quiet life raising their son Kobna and supporting their family back home. Their tranquil world is turned upside down “when Walter’s brother, Valentine, comes to stay, his exuberance and lust for life changes everything. Looking to make a life for himself in the UK, he crashes into their lives bringing laughter, music and chaos,” as per Sky One’s summary. Valentine’s presence awakens a passion for music within young Kobna, much to Walter and Agnes’ chagrin.

The series will feature Elba as patriarch Walter, with Madeline Appiah, Sammy Kamara and Jimmy Akingbola rounding out the principal cast as Agnes, Kobna and Valentine, respectively. The supporting cast includes British comedy favorite Bill Bailey, Kellie Shirley and Mattie Boys as next-door neighbor Bagpipes, his wife Kirsty and Kobna’s best friend Dean, respectively.

The British comedy was produced and created by Elba, alongside Gina Carter and Charlie Hanson (Extras). It was a collaborative effort between Green Door and Sprout Pictures for Sky One directors Adam MacDonald and Jon Mountague for the network’s new lineup of original comedies.

Between his film work in 2017, his directorial debut with the forthcoming drama Yardie and a new season of Luther on the way, Elba’s career seems to be finally going the way it should have after The Wire.

See first-look images from In the Long Run below.