22 Summers

Editor: Franco Bogino

Exec Producers: Diene Petterle, Nina Davies

Wednesday 29th January, 9pm on BBC One.

Critics are raving about Our Knife Crime Crisis this week! In this latest doc from production company 22Summers, acclaimed actor and documentary producer Idris Elba dives into the harrowing reality of knife crime in Britain. In this deeply personal project, Elba meets victims, offenders, police officers, and grieving families to uncover the roots of the issue and explore how the cycle of violence can be broken.

The film features Pooja Kanda, whose son Ronan was tragically murdered in a case of mistaken identity. She sheds light on systemic failures and the risks faced by children excluded from school. Elba also visits The Royal London Hospital, where a pioneering programme embeds youth workers in the casualty department to support young victims of knife crime, offering them a way out of the cycle of violence.

Elba has meaningful discussions with King Charles and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about solutions, advocating for earlier interventions. Reflecting on his own youth, Elba pushes for opportunities to be created for others, culminating in a knife crime summit at 10 Downing Street that brings together those directly affected to shape policy and inspire change.

We chatted to Franco about the documentary. He teamed up with director Ben Steele with whom he worked many times and built a great working relationship over the years. This project was a bit different to Franco’s usual work, he was excited to collaborate with Ben again and be involved with a big name like Idris Elba.
Franco reflected on the creative challenges they faced: “With this type of commission, there’s always a risk it could feel like a presenter-led “trip around the bay” that is informative but lacking real heart. Our ambition was to buck that trend and make something that feels more like a well rounded documentary, with Idris going on a more personal journey, and where the audience could engage with the subject on an emotional level, and not only take in facts and figures”.

Our Knife Crime Crisis premieres on Wednesday, 29th January, at 9pm on BBC One.