Channel 4 and Onyx Collective have released a first-look clip and brand new images from the highly anticipated upcoming adaptation of Queenie, based on the bestselling novel by Candice Carty-Williams. The eight-part drama series will air on Channel 4 and Hulu in 2024 and stars Dionne Brown (Criminal Record, The Walk-In) in the lead role.
Enter Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. A South London stalwart, journalist, loyal friend, not-so-loyal daughter and granddaughter, a sometimes catastrophist, an occasional mess, but more often than not an undervalued success – who is always, always enough.
Queenie is a razor-sharp, utterly honest, blisteringly funny and achingly yet beautifully relatable series, full of as much heart and soul as the lady herself. At its core, it’s a story about a young Black woman’s value and the unrelenting trials and tribulations of life.
After a messy breakup from her long-term boyfriend Tom, played by Jon Pointing (Big Boys), Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places and begins to realise she has to face the past head-on before she can rebuild.
Samuel Adewunmi (Secret Invasion, You Don't Know Me) plays Frank, a man with his own van and grand plans in life. He’s from ends, is invested in his community and he’s known Queenie since her High School days. Bellah makes her screen debut as Kyazike, Queenie’s longest-serving best friend from school.
Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones) plays Gina, the hard-bitten editor at Queenie’s work, The Daily Read. Tilly Keeper (You) plays Queenie’s colleague Darcy, Elisha Applebaum (Fate: The Winx Saga) plays Queenie’s best friend from university Cassandra, and Mim Shaikh (Informer) plays our resident wideboy Adi.
For Queenie’s family, Llewella Gideon is Grandma Veronica (GameFace), Michelle Greenidge plays Aunty Maggie (After Life), and Cristale De’Abreu makes her TV debut as Queenie’s little cousin Diana. Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) has today been announced as the role of Grandad Wilfred.
Further names joining the cast are Joseph Ollman (Domina), Melissa Johns (Grantchester) and Laura Whitmore (Sadhbh).
Queenie was created by Candice Carty-Williams, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series was commissioned for Channel 4 by Head of Drama Caroline Hollick and Commissioning Editor Gemma Boswell. It was produced by Further South Productions in association with Lionsgate TV; written by Candice Carty-Williams, Ryan Calais Cameron, Yolanda Mercy, Natasha Brown and Thara Popoola; and directed by Joelle Mae David and Makalla McPherson. Executive producers are Further South’s Steve November and Sarah Conroy, Lisa Walters is co-executive producer and series producer, and the score is by Ivor Novello-nominated producer Swindle.
Queenie will premiere in 2024 on Channel 4 in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories.
