Newcomer Chance Perdomo and Line of Duty star Craig Parkinson star in this one hour factual drama that tells the true story of Jerome Rogers, a 19-year-old motorbike courier from Croydon, who sees two unpaid £65 traffic fines escalating to more than a thousand pounds.
Unravelling under the pressure of his mounting debt and with his only source of income - his bike - clamped, Jerome took his own life.
At the heart of Killed By My Debt is a breakout performance from talented newcomer Chance Perdomo as Jerome Rogers. Craig Parkinson stars as The Bailiff and Juliet Cowan (Friday Night Dinner) as Jerome’s mum Tracey Rogers. Tom Walker, whose alter ego is the YouTube sensation Jonathan Pie, plays Jerome’s CitySprint controller.
Due to air later in the month, this hard hitting film directed by the multi award winning Joseph Bullman, depicts the dangerous drawbacks of the gig economy and insecure jobs, the impact of traffic fines and the destructive power of debt.
The film documents Jerome’s personal journey as his happy and hopeful nature gives in to suicidal despair. Director Joseph Bullman and writer Tahsin Guner worked closely with Jerome’s family - and with the testimony and evidence given to the inquest into Jerome’s death, which included ‘bodycam’ recordings of Jerome’s confrontations with the bailiffs. The team worked with evidence from young people working inside the gig economy and from those among them gripped by debt. The result is a minutely researched story of a national personal debt crisis.
Calvin Demba (Kingsman) plays Jerome’s brother, and Steve Toussaint plays Bentley Duncan, Tracey’s partner.
Speaking about the drama, Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, said “This drama is an incredibly important British story and a devastating examination of the damage wrought on one family by low income, unstable jobs and debt. It is an issue that affects many in the country, mainly young people, and I’m proud that BBC Three continues to bring thought-provoking, powerful storytelling to younger audiences.”
This film continues in the tradition of fact based award-winning dramas for BBC Three such as Don’t Take My Baby, Murdered By My Father and Murdered For Being Different.
In addition to this hour long factual drama, separate short-form content from BBC Three will include a short interview with Jerome’s mum and sister, and a Confessions Of A Bailiff film in which a working bailiff talks about the stresses of life as a gig economy bailiff struggling to earn a living.