Will There Be a Second Season of Champion on Netflix?
I'm Tired of All My Favourite Black British TV Shows Being Axed
Image Source: BBC
We've all had that feeling, when we find a show that we deeply connect with. For the next few weeks or months, all you can think about is the characters and what happens next in their story. On the flip side, I'm sure we can all remember the heartbreak of hearing that your favourite show is being cancelled — especially if the plot is left on a shocking cliffhanger.
After developing an emotional attachment to these characters and storylines, their absence feels like a loss. Unfortunately, this is a pain I'm starting to get used to more frequently. I'm noticing a pattern — and Black British shows seem to be taking the biggest hit.
Will there be a season two of "Champion" on Netflix?
The latest Black British show to not come back for a second series is BBC's "Champion." The acclaimed musical drama followed the lives of sibling rivals Vita and and Bosco, as they battle to dominate the music industry. This week author and showrunner Candice Carty-Williams announced that the musical drama, that was also released on Netflix last year, will not be renewed for season two.
Carty-Williams took to social media to confirm the cancellation, writing, "The SAD news is that I won't be bringing "Champion" back. I am grateful to each and every one of you who watched the show, posted about it, listened to the soundtrack, and shouted at me in the street because the soundtrack wasn't available outside of the UK (we're working on it). DMd about their favourite characters; yes to #JusticeForLennox and I know, Beres is wicked, songs, moments, and threatened me for a season two."
The author also touched on the success of the show, "The good news is "Champion" was watched by - now I've seen the numbers - millions of you, and the show was in the top 10 in so many majority Black countries. "Champion" was made for us and by us, and it was a success!"
She went on to thank the the "Champion" cast for bringing her characters to life, before giving fans the greatest gift — closure, by telling them what happened to all the characters, after the season ended on a cliffhanger. "I hadn't planned to write or showrun a second season because there's other things that need doing," she said. "But I wanted to leave you with something cause I believe in closing certain chapters properly." She then spelled out what happened to all of the characters in the following slides.
The pattern of Black British shows being cancelled is one we have watched transform over the years. Other memorable Black-fronted shows that never made it past just one season include ITV's "Riches," which was cancelled in December 2023 and Bolu Babalola's comedy-drama "Big Age" which has yet to get a second series, and was part of Channel 4's Black to Front initiative.
Pre-2020, there was a lack of Black British representation on TV overall. As a result, I found myself seeking comfort in Black American shows like Issa Rae's "Insecure" to feel a sense of community and representation on screen. During the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, a global conversation was ignited about the Black community, and the arts did start to take note — for a while. There was a range of new shows that gave me such a burst of hope, but they disappeared as quickly as they started.
Image Source: BBC
To me, it's starting to feel more like a tick-box exercise and inauthentic. All we want is to see TV production companies actually give multiple shows, fronted by minority communities, time to develop beyond one season to feel the true impact. It can be done - and "Champion" is the perfect example. Once BBC pushed "Champion" to a global audience through Netflix, it became a hit with viewers and critics alike. As critically-acclaimed new Black-fronted shows like BBC's "Boarders" launch, I'm hoping to see a different outcome.
The positive to this is that "Champion" proved that a Black British shows can have a global reach and influence. In the past, a false narrative prevailed in the entertainment industry, implying that we didn't have a big enough audience or global appeal for British shows to cater to the Black community. "Champion"'s success is hopefully the start of a meaningful shift and will ignite further conversations within production companies that creates sustained change for Black British art.
Aaliyah Harry(she/her) is the associate editor at POPSUGAR UK. She writes extensively across lifestyle, culture and beauty. Aaliyah also has a deep passion for telling stories and giving voice to the voiceless. Previously, she has contributed to Refinery29, Grazia UK and The Voice Newspaper.
