Based on the bestselling novel by Candice Carty-Williams, the 8-part drama has begun filming in South London.
Dionne Brown will play the lead role of Queenie Jenkins, a twenty-five-year-old Jamaican British woman living in South London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither.
After a messy break-up from her long-term boyfriend Tom, played by Jon Pointing, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places and begins to realise she has to face the past head-on before she can rebuild.
Speaking about playing Queenie, Dionne Brown said "I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Queenie to screens with Channel 4, Disney, Lionsgate and Candice. I’ve been in love with the book since the moment I read it so to be able to audition much less play her (Queenie) is a dream come true and I can’t wait for everyone to see exactly what we’ve been working on behind the scenes."
Samuel Adewunmi will play 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.
Elsewhere, Sally Phillips plays Gina, the hard-bitten Editor at Queenie’s work The Daily Read, Tilly Keeper plays Queenie’s colleague Darcy, Elisha Applebaum plays Queenie’s best friend from university Cassandra and Mim Shaikh plays our resident wideboy Adi.
For Queenie’s family, Llewella Gideon will play Grandma Veronica, Michelle Greenidge plays Aunty Maggie and Cristale De’Abreu makes her TV debut as Queenie’s little cousin Diana.
Speaking about today's casting announcement for Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams said "I can’t imagine bringing Queenie to life without each member of this exciting and enviable cast."
"Each of these actors has brought their own essence to each role, breathing new life into this adaptation, and revitalising my own relationships with characters who have lived in my head for almost a decade. I can’t wait for viewers to see the chemistry, the talent and the brilliance of Queenie, her family and her friends, her lovers and her frenemies."
Created by Candice Carty-Williams, Queenie will be executive produced by Carty-Williams, who will also serve as showrunner. Executive producers will be Further South’s Steve November and Sarah Conroy with Lisa Walters as co-executive producer and series producer.
The eight-part series will be written by Candice Carty-Williams, Ryan Calais Cameron, Yolanda Mercy, Natasha Brown and Thara Popoola and directed by Joelle Mae David and Makalla McPherson.
Queenie will air on Channel 4