In the Long Run

In the Long Run is a British comedy-drama television series created by Idris Elba which premiered on Sky One on 29 March 2018. Loosely based on Elba’s childhood, the show is set in the 1980s on the gritty, fictitious Eastbridge Estate in East London. The series follows the Easmon family; Walter (Elba), his wife Agnes (Madeline Appiah) and their 13-year-old British-born son Kobna (Sammy Kamara) who have settled in England after having arrived from Sierra Leone.

Main

 * Idris Elba as Walter Easmon (series 1–present), patriarch of the Easmon family
 * Bill Bailey as Terence 'Bagpipes' De La Croix (series 1–present), Walter's best friend
 * Madeline Appiah as Agnes Easmon (series 1–present), Walter's wife
 * Jimmy Akingbola as Valentine Easmon (series 1–present), Walter's younger brother
 * Kellie Shirley as Kirsty De La Croix (series 1–present), 'Bagpipes' wife
 * Sammy Kamara as Kobna Easmon (series 1–present), Walter and Agnes' British-born son
 * Mattie Boys as Dean De La Croix (series 1–present), 'Bagpipes' and Kirsty's son

Recurring

 * Neil D'Souza as Rajesh (series 1–present), Walter and Bagpipes' factory boss
 * Curtis Walker as Leon (series 2–present), Melissa's biological father
 * Amani Johnson as Melissa (series 1–present), Kirsty's daughter
 * Deno as Singing Boy (series 1)
 * Malaki Paul as Singing Boy (Series 2-present)
 * Kadeem Ramsay as John "Barney" (Series 2-present)
 * Jude Akuwudike (series 1–present) as Uncle Akie

Guest stars

 * Ellen Thomas as Mama (series 3; episodes 1-2), Walter's mother

Development
In the Long Run is filmed at various locations across London including Kingston, Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth. The housing estate scenes are filmed at Cambridge Road and Czar Street Estates in Lewisham and Kingston upon Thames, respectively. The Milton Arms pub interior scenes are shot at the Peckham Liberal Club, with exterior shots filmed at the Wheelshunters Club in Hornshay Street, Southwark.

The singing boy in series 1, known only as Singing Boy in the show’s credits, is young Eritrean-British singing sensation Deno Michael Mebrahitu aka Deno. The singer has had over 46 million listens on Spotify. 2012's Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Malakai Paul is the current Singing Boy, after taking over from Deno from series 2.

Reception
The Guardian described In the Long Run as "less likely to prompt belly laughs than instil a warm glow, and has the unmistakable feel of a comedy still finding its feet. At its heart, however, it's a joyful portrait of community and camaraderie, of home and belonging, of dreams and joie de vivre."